Obama Endorses Pricing as “Thoughtful and Innovative”
Last month Barack Obama released details of a vaguely encouraging transportation platform, pledging investment in rail and "livable communities." Today the Democratic presidential candidate endorsed congestion pricing.
In town for a speech and fundraising events, Obama was introduced at Cooper Union by Mayor Bloomberg this morning.
WNYC reports:
Speaking not far from Wall Street, Barack Obama told a Manhattan audience that the US needs better oversight of national financial markets, help for financially stressed homeowners and an additional $30 billion stimulus package.
REPORTER: Later, in an exclusive interview with WNYC, Senator Obama said he supports congestion pricing.
OBAMA: I think Mayor Bloomberg's proposal for congestion pricing is a thoughtful and innovative approach to the problem.
REPORTER: Obama said congestion pricing should not replace federal funding of mass transit.
Maybe this will take some more air out of the right-wing conspiracy theory, propagated most vocally by Congressman Anthony Weiner.
In the interest of equal time (sort of), Bill Clinton has also expressed approval for pricing -- and cycling.
Photo: AP
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Yes we can!
Comment by momos — March 27, 2008 @ 5:51 pm | Link
But Hillary's boy, DiBlasio, is too much of a wimp to show leadership on this issue.
Comment by Felix — March 27, 2008 @ 8:50 pm | Link
Why wouldn't he? Congestion pricing is just re-arranging deck chairs.
Comment by fpteditors — March 28, 2008 @ 9:50 am | Link
No, it's a course correction. Maybe it's not enough of one but your doomsaying is not helpful.
Comment by Doc Barnett — March 28, 2008 @ 10:35 am | Link
Course correction or distraction?
Comment by fpteditors — March 28, 2008 @ 12:53 pm | Link
Whether or not congestion pricing is a distraction, your comments are certainly an unconstructive distraction.
Comment by bureaucrat — March 28, 2008 @ 2:06 pm | Link
Agreed. Bureaucrat and Doc Barnett, comments withdrawn.
Comment by fpteditors — March 31, 2008 @ 3:56 pm | Link