By Larry Jones
July 4, 2011

In an inspiring speech, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA) told mayors gathered at a June 17 luncheon that we are “at a critical moment for our cities and our country’s future—a time of important decisions about how we invest in our future, create jobs, reduce our deficit, and grow our economy. Today, I’ve come to state my belief that investing in America’s cities is the answer to our economic crisis.”

As Leader, Pelosi pledged that Democrats would continue working closely with the nation’s mayors to defend critical investments that promote: the stability of our neighborhoods through community development block grants and affordable housing; the safety and security of our local communities by putting more cops on the street and investing in first responders and firefighters; the education of our children through school construction and teachers; and the protection of our environment and the creation of jobs through energy efficiency initiatives. To achieve these goals, Pelosi said, “We recognize that there is no greater challenge facing mayors, Members of Congress, or our entire nation than creating jobs.”

She pointed out that cities are central to the task of creating jobs since metropolitan areas account for 86 percent of employment, 90 percent of wage income, and over the next 20 years, 94 percent of the nation’s economic growth. She reminded mayors this was not the first time our nation has faced a severe economic hardship. In fact she said during the early years of our nation, President Thomas Jefferson, when faced with sparse public resources and tight budgets, responded by tasking his Secretary of the Treasury, Albert Gallatin to put together a plan to develop America’s infrastructure.

“In the years that followed, our nation would build a legacy that last to this day in the Erie Canal, the transcontinental railway, and the Cumberland Road,” she said. These projects, which transported people and projects, and promoted commerce, were called “internal improvements.” But today, she said mayors call it “America Fast Forward,” which is a national jobs and transportation plan.

She shared a variety of ideas about how the nation should move forward on its commitment to create jobs—creating a national infrastructure bank to provide direct financing and grants to critical projects in our states and cities; using Build America Bonds to spur job creation at home by supporting projects to rebuild schools and transit lines; and promoting public-private partnerships to bring the best of government and business together to create jobs across our country.

In tough budget times, Pelosi said it is important for mayors, members of Congress and other public officials to tighten their belts without losing sight of their priorities and the needs in their communities. She added that decisions must be made based on values such as putting people to work, ensuring a dignified retirement for our senior, and educating our children in a responsible way. If you agree to these values, she explained, “We can’t possibly make the cuts being proposed by some in Washington.”

She pointed out that she and other Democrats in Congress disagree with the Republican plan that would end Medicare while giving away tax breaks to big oil companies; slash support for seniors in nursing homes while giving away tax breaks to corporations that ship jobs overseas; cut education for children and increase the cost of college while giving tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans and adding $1 trillion to the deficit; and repeal health reform, which recognizes that health care is a right for all Americans, not just the privileged few.