Hundreds of local officials, business leaders and citizens who were lucky enough to secure a public ticket flocked to Shenendehowa High School on Thursday, July 9, to see Vice President Joseph Biden speak on the state of the economy and the government’s efforts to turn it around.
He was joined by Rep. Scott Murphy, D-Glens Falls, and Gov. David Paterson. For Murphy, stumping for the economic stimulus plan is old hat, as his run for the 20th Congressional District seat was centered on the faltering economy.
There’s nothing I’d rather talk about than creating jobs in Upstate New York, he said, `and there’s no one better to do it with than Vice President Joe Biden.`
Biden’s appearance in Clifton Park was one of many stops on a tour to promote the Obama administration’s economic stimulus plan, a major component of which is the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. On Thursday, Biden addressed those who have criticized the $787 billion bill.
`The recovery act is not designed to restore the economy to its full health on its own. It was one of several pieces. It was designed to provide the boost necessary to stop this freefall,` said Biden.
Biden said that in New York the act has been implemented as it was intended: with speed.
`The truth of the matter is that we can’t get this money out the door and into the hands of the states unless there’s competent management, transparent management, actually knowing what to do with this money when it get hereSome states, it’s harder than others. In this state, it’s been a real pleasure.`
So far, $16 billion in recovery act money has been designated for New York. That includes $2 billion for education, which helped districts across the state present palatable budgets to voters in May after state aid faltered.
Biden also said that 300 New York state transportation projects are already underway or about to be started, providing 6,700 jobs at a cost of $1.1 billion. These projects include a reconstruction of Church Street in Saratoga Springs.
Nationwide, Biden argued that $43 billion in tax relief and extension of unemployment benefits had helped to limit the cumulative state deficits to half of what they would have been, therefore saving up to 100,000 jobs.
`The idea that we’ve only authorized and haven’t sent [money], not true. Governors are out there. People are putting shovels in ground, jackhammers in old concrete and putting new steel on bridges,` said Biden.
He was careful to direct blame for the situation and the long path ahead squarely on previous leadership, however.
`This year has been and will continue to be about rescuing and rebuilding our economy for the long-term future. It took us a lot of years to get in this hole, a lot of mismanagement,` he said.
Murphy stressed the importance of updating sewer and roadways for his district’s future.
`We’ve got to make those investments in infrastructure. We cannot compete globally and be a world leader in the 21st century with 19th century infrastructure,` he said.
Dozens of local officials and Democratic Party leaders were in attendance, including Clifton Park Supervisor Philip Barrett, Malta Supervisor Paul Sausville (both Republicans), Saratoga County Democratic Chairman Larry Bulman and Michael Relyea, executive director of Luther Forest Technology Campus (where a GlobalFoundries microchip manufacturing plant promised to bring hundreds of jobs to the area is being built).
Many lucky residents also made it into the gymnasium. A number of people were turned away from the high school on Wednesday when tickets for the event ran out, even though news of Biden’s appearance had been published for less than 24 hours.
A line of hundreds had formed by the time tickets started being handed out at about 12:30 p.m. At the front of that line was Brad Smith, a recent Shenendehowa graduate who arrived at 6 a.m. to ensure his ticket.
`I just think it’s a very unique situation to be able to hear what’s going on right now,` said Smith of the event.
When the doors finally swung open, however, Smith nearly didn’t receive his ticket, as he’s still 17 years old. Luckily, Shenendehowa Superintendent L. Oliver Robinson stepped in to secure a ticket for his former student.
Saratoga Springs Supervisor Joanne Yespsen, who has been an outspoken supporter of Murphy and the recovery act, said that Biden’s words summed up the importance of the government’s efforts.
`Its what government should be doing, helping middle class people get back on their feet,` she said.
Yepsen has organized a recovery act forum aimed at small businesses, nonprofits and community groups for Thursday, Aug. 6, at Empire State College from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Murphy and a representative from Paterson’s office will be in attendance.
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