Podcast Interview Features Former Gov. Ed Rendell Talking about investing in America
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Feb 25, 2012, 0 Comments
Courtesy TxDot,
AUSTIN, TX—The United States can’t get needed infrastructure without private-sector participation, according to former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, who said our country must modernize its infrastructure. Rendell insists it can be done—but a challenge exists in identifying innovative ways to fund the projects the nation so urgently needs.
Rendell is the featured guest this week on the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) Podcast. In the interview with the transportation advocate, which took place following his keynote speech at the recent 7th annual Texas Transportation Forum in San Antonio, he reaffirmed how infrastructure is important to public safety, achieving a good quality of life and creating jobs.
The governor also talked about the importance of repairing and improving America’s infrastructure and the need to find innovative ways to raise money for that investment including making use of private sector funds.
Money dedicated to building and maintaining the national infrastructure—from sewers to highways to airports—is money well spent, he noted. But, he added that building infrastructure is expensive and that everyone agrees with the mission until they see the cost.
The best solution is combining private sector money with other funding, he noted.
“Interest rates are the lowest they have ever been, and the public generally supports spending money on transportation,” said Rendell. “Now is the time to get this work done.”
In his 34 years of public service, Governor Rendell has championed rebuilding and reinvesting in America’s infrastructure. As governor of Pennsylvania, Rendell worked with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to create the Building America’s Future organization. The group focuses on the need for a more significant investment in infrastructure projects to assure that America holds its place as a global economic power. Governor Rendell serves as
co-chair of the organization.
Rendell served two terms as governor of Pennsylvania (2003-2011) and managed a budget of $28.3 billion as the chief executive of the nation’s sixth-most-populous state. He serves on several boards, is a Brookings Fellow, and teaches government and political courses at the University of Pennsylvania.
In the last five years, TxDOT has posted more than 150 transportation-related podcasts including interviews with Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, former Speaker of the House Dick Gephardt, and energy tycoon T. Boone Pickens. TxDOT also uses podcasts to communicate emergency information such as hurricane evacuations.
Podcasts are available on TxDOT’s website at www.txdot.gov and on iTunes.
