Vice President Joe Biden came into Connecticut on Monday to say the massive federal program to get the economy’s heart beating is working and has put 1 million people back to work.
The project that brought Biden to Fairfield is a $70-million repaving job for a section of the Merritt Parkway. That, and a fundraiser for Democratic Congressman Jim Himes.
Biden said the money isn't "just rebuilding that road. We're succeeding and beginning to rebuild America. We still have a long way to go."
Getting the Merritt fixed up has put 60 people to work and it will provide more than 100 jobs before the work is complete, Biden said.
Biden said $48 billion for infrastructure is available nationwide through the $787 billion stimulus bill, the largest investment in the nation's highways, railroads and airports since the 1950s.
Money is also available for health care, food stamps and for jobs, including 2,500 teachers in Connecticut whom Biden said are working because of the federal stimulus money.
Biden is the latest, but not the last, of the high-profile Washington types to come to Connecticut and give a supportive boost to local politicians.
Local
Sen. Christopher Dodd accompanied Biden. Dodd has been struggling with low poll numbers and faces a potential Democratic primary next year. Five Republicans have also announced plans to seek the GOP nomination, among them, former WWE CEO Linda McMahon, who is already spending a significant amount of money on her campaign.
Before talking about how the Recovery Act is helping people here, Biden appeared at a fundraiser for freshman Rep. Jim Himes in Greenwich, also a Democrat.
Chris Healy, chairman of the state Republican Party, criticized Biden for his trip. The state's unemployment rate has risen from 7.4 percent to 8.1 percent since the stimulus bill was signed into law, he said.
"Vice President Biden is going to tell the people of southwestern Connecticut that the millions being spent on the Merritt Parkway is creating jobs in Connecticut, but he is wrong," Healy said.
