U.S. Sen. Judd Gregg said Dec. 29 that New Hampshire’s share of a federal economic stimulus package could be $300 million for infrastructure improvements.
Gregg said that the stimulus money should be spent on one-time infrastructure improvements as opposed to ongoing programs.
"This will be one-time blips in the deficit that will come back down," he said.
He said Gov. John Lynch and the state's political leaders should decide the priorities for any money Congress allocates to the state.
Gregg said he personally would choose to expand broadband Internet access in the North Country, rebuild the Little Bay Bridge in Newington and improve Interstate 93. The University System of New Hampshire has a wish list, but Gregg said that he has helped obtain $300 million for the system over the past decade and doesn't believe its needs are as great as some others.
"I think there's certain infrastructure (improvements) which could be very positive. What we're seeing unfortunately is the world's largest feeding frenzy for earmarks going on right now," Gregg said. "We've just gone through an election where everyone's demonizing earmarks, yet every community in New Hampshire appears to be pulling out their wish list from swing sets to running tracks."
Gregg said the same thing is happening across the country in a "tsunami of earmarks." Gregg said the goal of infrastructure improvements should be to create jobs while making the state and nation more competitive.
Gregg said he opposes helping states solve budget problems caused by overspending, but he supports helping fiscally responsible states whose problems are the result of a decline in revenue.
