The federal economic stimulus package was at the top of the agenda today for the U.S. House of Representatives, which passed the bill 244-188. Oregonians in the energy, education and transportation sectors are watching closely to see if the federal legislation, which still has several steps to go through, will bring more than $2 billion to the state. Some of that money would go to projects that are ready to hit the ground running, while another portion would be dispensed for longer-term initiatives such as a new way to deliver electriciy called the "smart grid."
What are you looking for in the stimulus package? Do you live in public housing or have a child in public school? If you've lost a job recently, are you angling for a new one that will stem from federal dollars? How might the federal stimulus package bring the bacon home to Oregon — and to you?
GUESTS:
- Charles Pope: Washington correspondent for The Oregonian
- Adam Torgerson: Public information officer for Oregon Department of Transportation
- Jeff Hammarlund: Adjunct associate professor and senior research fellow at the Mark Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University and president and owner of Northwest Energy and Environmental Strategies consulting firm
- Dianne Quast: Director of real estate operations at the Housing Authority of Portland