County leaders return from D.C. lobbying trip
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CHARLOTTE – Mecklenburg County leaders returned from a trip to Washington, D.C., Tuesday after explaining to senators and representatives which projects are primed for stimulus funding and how those projects would benefit the region.
Mecklenburg County Chair Jennifer Roberts and other local leaders lobbied the state's elected leaders Monday for local funding from the stimulus plan – now they wait.
"There is some disappointment that [the stimulus plan] can't do more at this point. There's a concern about oversight, and I think that all of us in local government understand that and absolutely plan to manage those monies wisely," Roberts said.
County leaders included school construction, greenways and transit in their list of "ready now" projects.
Roberts learned the stimulus package will provide more federal grant dollars to go directly into different local departments.
"It's a big country, there are a lot of needs and there a lot of places which are much worse than Charlotte-Mecklenburg is, but I feel like we have a good message," Roberts said.
North Carolina's junior senator, Democrat Kay Hagan, voted for the stimulus bill. She said she hoped the funds – especially those tied to road projects – will reverse the state's growing unemployment.
"There's over 296 construction projects in North Carolina ready to go, so we can start using that money immediately, putting people back to work," Hagan said.
North Carolina's senior senator meanwhile, Republican Richard Burr, voted against the package, calling it the wrong action.
Burr issued a statement saying, "it will spend nearly a trillion dollars on projects to expand government programs, and would provide little stimulus to the overall economy.”
Before North Carolina leaders find out how much money will be heading to the Tar Heel State, the House and Senate must compromise on a final stimulus price tag in a conference committee .