Shelby to visit county on Feb. 14

By John Few (Contact) | Demopolis Times

Published Wednesday, January 21, 2009

U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) will host a Valentine’s Day county visit Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. in Thomaston. The visit, which is open to the public, will be held at the Rural Heritage Foundation and Center, located at 133 6th Ave.

Shelby said he plans to address the legislative agenda for the new Congress and important issues facing the nation and state.

The major issue facing the nation right now — and one that is certainly expected to draw a lot of the senator’s time answering questions about — is the waning economy and President Barack Obama’s stimulus plan.

In December, Obama unveiled a plan to spend roughly $825 billion to pull the U.S. out of recession that’s considered by some economists to be the worst since the Great Depression.

Municipalities were asked to create lists of what “shovel ready” projects were ready to go once Congress passes a stimulus package. These are initiatives that are ready to begin as soon as the funding is there.

The City of Linden was the latest municipality in Marengo County to announce they had their wish list of projects ready.

Cheryl Hall, the city’s administrator, said the list includes $2.9 million funding for projects such as renovating the library and road to the industrial park, recreation improvements to Scott and Austin parks, and street and drainage improvements.

The county and City of Demopolis have also lists compiled.

However, it was reported Wednesday that the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projected less than half of the money that House Democrats want to spend on highways, bridges and other job-creating investments is likely to be used before the end of fiscal 2010. The CBO said the balance would likely be spent over the next several years, after the recession is projected to end.

Overall, only $26 billion out of $274 billion in infrastructure spending would be delivered into the economy by the Sept. 30 end of the budget year, just 7 percent. Just one in seven dollars of a huge $18.5 billion investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy programs would be spent within a year and a half.

And other pieces, such as efforts to bring broadband Internet service to rural and underserved areas won’t get started in earnest for years.

This is setting the stage for a lively debate in Congress over what kind of stimulus plan needs to be passed.

Shelby stated he is ready to listen to the citizens’ opinions and concerns on this and other issues.

“Over the years these meetings have provided an excellent opportunity for area residents to listen and voice their opinions on the activities of our government,” said Shelby. “This will be a great chance to discuss the important issues facing our state and our nation as the 111th Congress convenes.”

Senator Shelby has held over 1400 county visits since being elected.

Sen. Shelby plans to seek a fifth term next year.

Shelby, first elected to the Senate in 1986, will be 76 by the time of the November 2010 elections.

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