Obama Outlines Ike-Style Public Works Push

President-elect Obama pledged today to approve billions in government expenditures on public works projects when he assumes office, the New York Times reports. Invoking Eisenhower’s Interstate program, Obama said “we will create millions of jobs,” possibly by funding some or all of $136 billion in infrastructure projects already approved by state governments.

Obama also said the spending package, which his transition team is working on with Congress, would be tightly regulated. “We won’t do it the old Washington way,” he said. “We’ll measure progress by the reforms we make and the results we achieve.” In his radio address, Obama mentioned energy efficiency and broadband access as focuses of the spending, as well as roads, schools, and utilities. (More President Obama stories.)