Okay, Rock N’ Roll Hoochie Coo, with so many candidates having received official notification on Wednesday that they qualified for public financing, it’s now a fast blast of spending until Bridgeport’s Tsunami Tuesday Aug. 12.

My media friends from around the state call me in amazement about the city’s plethora of primaries, but this is the Park City where politicking is a sporting event.

Sly Salcedo, the Fightin’ Filipino, will do battle with City Council member Ezequiel Santiago and the genial Chico Rivera for control of 130^th State Assembly District that covers the South End, and portions of the East Side and West Side. Hey, maybe Eze and Chico will split the Latin vote and Sly wins with the city’s approaching Filipino vote. I understand the ship is poised from Manila.

Sly, a retired Navy officer, fought the government’s war on drugs, and says it’s a huge waste of money on all levels. See his website for details.

State Rep. Rapid Robert Keeley’s feeling pretty good today, following announcement by Governor Rell that the dough he’s been pushing for a firehouse in the West End, will be on the gov’s bonding agenda in August. Just where the money will be spent, however, is not clear. Will it go for repairs or something new? To paraphrase Keeley, “It’s power of incumbency, baby!”

Auden Grogins, the blonde banshee from Black Rock, is trying to retire the incumbent in what is shaping up as a Democratic doozy. Grogins, trumpeting her tax-cutting record on the City Council and legislative support of a property tax cap, is working her butt off to dethrone the longest serving legislator in the city’s history. Grogins says that’s too long, what has Keeley delivered? Keeley says a lot.

I understand Bridgeport Kid, OIB’s favorite guitar slinger, is penning a song for the primary battle. Will it be Bob Keeley Blues? Or Blonde Banshee Blues?

Marilyn Moore, legislative aide to State Sen. Ed Gomes, is battling endorsed Democrat Anthony Musto. The winner faces Republican State Sen. Rob Russo. The district covers Trumbull, and portions of Bridgeport and Monroe.

Other primaries include City Councilman Carlos Silva versus State Rep. Chris Caruso and Lydia Martinez against State Rep. Andres Ayala. Stayed tuned to OIB for campaign updates.

Saluting The Mayor’s Dad

Mayor Bill Finch’s dad William Finch Sr. is a prince of a guy and at 6:30 tonight the mayor will present his father medals commemorating service in World War II as part of a ceremony to raise donations for construction of a memorial planned for McLevy Hall downtown.

The elder Finch served both at D-Day in Normandy and in the Battle of Okinawa. It’s always a treat to chat with him. Dr. Linda Spoonster Schwartz, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs, will attend the event at Beardsley Park across from the mayor’s home.

Note to candidates: if you’re planning to trash your opponent with a sucker-punch robo call see State Elections Enforcement Commission rule below:

Attribution Requirements for Campaign “Robo” Telephone Calls

If any candidate, candidate committee, or exploratory committee makes or incurs an expenditure for automated telephone calls that promote the success of the candidate or the defeat of another candidate, the candidate’s name and voice must be contained in the narrative of the call.

We’ve all received an automated call, aka robo call. You pick up the phone and a voice says “Did you know that Haystacks Fortuna sleeps with his dog, cat and parrot confiscated from the Amazon region of South America? The dog froths at the mouth, the cat has scratch fever and the parrot speaks ill of Jesus.”

Translation: my opponent’s a mental case.

Well, if you’re going to do that, the candidate promoting the call must be identified.

In the old days, before Connecticut’s public financing system offered free dough with lots of regulations, blindsiding an opponent without attribution was common. I’m sure that many campaign camps have lawyers figuring out ways around the rules, but it’s much tougher now. And it’s not worth the risk of getting caught. Screw around with taxpayer dollars in a campaign and the culpable candidate and treasurer will get punched in the nose. And that’s why you’re seeing and hearing lots of paid for by…and approved by…

Edgy robo calls won’t go away entirely, but they won’t be as sinister out of fear they backfire. In the past it was clear nefarious calls came from the opposition, but the candidate could always say no way it came from us, that’s outrageous, we would never do that, yadda, yadda, yadda.

Remaining Connecticut candidates seeking free dough from the state will get the word sometime today whether they’ve qualified for public financing. There’s a lot of paperwork involved that must be checked and requirements met before election officials say, okay your check’s being wired. Then it will be a mad dash to spend with just a few weeks left before the Aug. 12 primary. Anticipating how the money will be spent, before public financing approval, is key otherwise there will not be enough time to turn around mailers. Direct mail, the stuff delivered by Uncle Sam, is time consuming. Once you figure out content, someone needs to design it, review it, sign off on it, print it, deliver it to post office. One little mistake can become a big one, like your mail never gets out the door because money wasn’t deposited into the bulk rate mail account with the post office.

State Rep. Chris Caruso’s campaign for mayor last year was a nightmare in the final days because of mail glitches.

If you want to see all the rules regarding attribution requirements check this out:

www .ct.gov/seec/lib/seec/CEP_GUIDE_JUNE_2008_-_FINAL.pdf

And if you want to learn about Democratic congressional candidate Jim Himes’ plan for tax relief, check this out:

www .himesforcongress.com/page/-/documents/TaxRelief.pdf

Hey, the city’s gonna have a director of Public Facilities real soon, and according to the skinny in City Hall it will be a familiar face…Charlie Carroll, chief of staff to former Mayor John Fabrizi and current director of Parks and Recreation.

Charlie is a good guy who had a supporting role in filmmaker Larry Locke’s docudrama The Accidental Mayor, about Fabs’ battle with his public and private demons. Fabs appointed Charlie, his chief loyalist, parks honcho in the waning months of his mayoralty. Along with the director of Economic Development (recently filled by Don Eversley) the department head vacancy in Public Facilities had left a key unit rudderless during Mayor Bill Finch’s first eight months in office.

Public Facilities is a superagency that touches the lives of residents on a daily basis more than any other non-uniformed government function. The department includes public works, parks, the dog pound and airport: it picks up your garbage and plows and paves the streets, fixes potholes and grooms golf courses, handles building maintenance and some construction projects. When a City Council member gets a raging phone call from a constituent, it usually has something to do with Public Facilities.

For decades it had been the political dumping ground for the connected. “Hey, get my kid a job!” Okay, we’ll stick him in public works. But in recent years, as budget restrictions and job reclassification have cut back on mayoral discretionary appointments, not as many jobs to go around. One of the biggest headaches for the Public Facilities director, in addition to making the trains run on time, is dealing with the unions on an assortment of issues.

If Charlie gets the nod how does Charlie, once a union worker himself, deal with the unionized workers he knows so well?

Both John Marsilio, director of Public Facilities under Joe Ganim and George Estrada who had the role under Fabs before leaving for a similar position at the University of Bridgeport last year, knew how to navigate the minefields both political and public to get the job done.

Good luck, Charlie.

Weed and seed, a news release from Congressman Christopher Shays

Bridgeport to Receive $150,000 Weed and Seed Grant
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Christopher Shays and Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch announced today that the Bridgeport Police Department will receive a $150,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to begin a “Weed and Seed” program in the Hollow as well as in the surrounding neighborhoods. This is the second award to implement a Weed and Seed strategy in that neighborhood.

Weed and Seed is a community-driven initiative that aims to revitalize high-crime neighborhoods by “weeding out” criminals who participate in violent crime and drug abuse and “seeding” communities with social, educational, recreational, health, and cultural services to improve residents’ quality of life.

“The Bridgeport Police Department works hard to improve our neighborhoods,” Shays said. “The Weed and Seed program is an important part of their efforts to clean up Bridgeport , prevent crime and build a safer community. I am grateful for this support from the Department of Justice, and for the work of Mayor Finch to enhance the quality of life for residents in these areas.”

“First, we’d like to thank Congressman Shays for helping to secure this needed grant for the Bridgeport Police Department,” said Mayor Finch. “Our police officers work very hard and they do a tremendous job, but this will help them focus even harder on the effort to make sure Bridgeport is a safer community for all our residents and for all the visitors to our city.”

Police Chief Bryan Norwood also thanked Congressman Shays and assured him that the monies would be put to excellent use. “We are always happy when we can get valuable support from sources outside of Bridgeport,” said Norwood.

Law enforcement will use the funding to continue its work to reduce drug trafficking, gun violence and gang activity through the use of Joint Law Enforcement Task Forces, infiltration techniques, and coordinated prosecutions.

The grants work to increase the level of trust between residents and the police. They provide a wide range of safe haven activities including mentoring, computer learning, and health, recreational, and cultural initiatives. The grants also aim to improve the physical appearance of neighborhoods by collaborating with local development efforts to encourage housing development and incorporating crime prevention through environmental design principles in residential housing.

Three weeks left until the Aug. 12 Tsunami Tuesday in Bridgeport and environs. We have races for congress, state senate and state representative. What are you hearing out there? I’m energized about the possibilities, especially if all candidates qualify for the anticipated public financing.

The Democratic primary between State Rep. Robert Keeley and challenger Auden Grogins, former City Council and Board of Education member from Black Rock, is shaping up as a battle royal. Democratic Town Chairman Mario Testa doesn’t want Keeley to lose. It’s not that Mario loves Keeley. It’s that Grogins supported former party leader John Stafstrom for the chairmanship. If Grogins (who’s working hard, as well as Keeley) wins, Mario looks weak. But with so many primaries in the city, where does Mario devote his attention?

When it comes to politics this city is a crazy place, and I love it because OIB enjoys readers from the “boring” politics in New Haven, purely for the entertainment value. Incumbent State Rep. Andres Ayala is fighting off a challenge from the endorsed candidate Lydia Martinez on the East Side. Everything on the East Side is personality driven. Andres is fighting with his Uncle Tito, a former City Council member, this one’s fighting with that one. I can’t keep track because the next day they could be friends again only to be fighting a week later. Makes me disoriented.

What impact will Mario have in the lower half of the city in the wide-open state rep. race between party-endorsed Eze Santiago, and Chico Rivera and Sly Salcedo? District Leader Mitch “The Switch” Robles, Eze’s step dad, and Mario aren’t exactly buds these days. Chico and Mario are close. Sly’s new to the game but for pure brainpower and candidate attraction the Fightin’ Filipino cannot be ignored. Anyone that meets Sly likes him.  I’m just wondering how many absentee ballots Mitch has in his back pocket already. It pays to know your peeps.

State Rep. Chris Caruso’s facing a challenge from Carlos Silva, but I don’t expect the big man to have any problem keeping his seat.

The Democratic state senate primary between endorsed Anthony Musto, the Trumbull town treasurer and Marilyn Moore, former legislative aide to State Sen. Ed Gomes, becomes intriguing if Moore qualifies for the free loot. She’ll learn that in a few days. The winner faces Republican State Sen. Rob Russo in November.

Democrat Jim Himes, looking to unseat Republican Congressman Chris Shays, faces a primary from that peculiar Greenwich wannabe Lee Whitnum. Himes will turn Lee into Brie on Aug. 12, but pull up a seat the last few weeks because you never know what verbal dip she’ll serve up for the party. One day she calls Himes a Nazi, shortly after she barbs him for supporting Israel. Good grief, I need a shrink.

Take A Kid To A Game

Hey, I’ve got two tickets to a Yankee game this Wednesday afternoon that are yours, loge section, left field line. This is not a promotion, and no scoundrel gave them to me. I have an eight-game ticket plan for the Yanks and I cannot make the game. I asked a bunch of friends if they want them but it’s hard for folks to skip out during the day. So, send me an email or call me and I’ll get the tix to you.

If you believe the people should have the ultimate power, check out this site! Thanks, Charlie, for the heads up. www .ctconcon.com 

Cop Stuff

I see where Bridgeport Harbormaster Joe Savino, also a retired member of the Bridgeport PD, is trading in his boat for a golf bag. Joe’s a really good guy, a cop that doesn’t act like a cop. Speaking of cops, Ron Bailey’s a guy you want on your side if you’re in a fight. Years ago he was one of my martial arts instructors - saw him break five boards with a single punch. Now he’s letting his words do the fighting as president of The Bridgeport Guardians, a group of city police officers that monitors discrimination issues on behalf of the department’s minority members. In 1982, U.S. District Judge T.F. Gilroy Daly ruled that widespread discrimination within the police department required a remedy order that led to numerous police department changes, including the court-ordered appointment of blacks and Latinos to specialized divisions. Although Daly’s order struck a numbers balance between black, white and brown officers, some within the community, especially the late Superintendent of Police Joseph A. Walsh, believed that the judge went too far. Bailey contacted OIB to explain he believes that the remedy order is under assault by the city. He fired off a letter to the City Attorney’s Office with a copy to Mayor Bill Finch. See excerpt of letter below:

I recently was informed that the City of Bridgeport, utilizing the law firm of Pullman and Comley 850 Main St. Bridgeport, has appealed my recent ruling that Deputy Chief Adam Radzimirski, in short, was discriminatory with regards to his excluding a qualified Black Police officer from the Emergency Service Unit also know as SWAT.

Attorney William Wenzell, who is the main attorney from this firm appealing the recent ruling and the court decree called (Remedy Order) that protects minority officers in Bridgeport, didn’t send me a copy of this appeal.

Please be advised that I am requesting the following information.  Since the City of Bridgeport seems all to willing to fight against minority officers concerns, as well as their rights to be equal, I now have to ask:

How much has this law firm cost the tax payers of Bridgeport to use Pullman and Comley in the last 3 years?   I am looking for a detailed billing.

I also need to know how this law firm that is also the firm of recently replace Democratic town chairman John Stafstrom received authorization to represent Bridgeport.  Who selected this law firm?  This is very unethical when the law firm of the Democratic chairman gets such great deals of money and seems connected.  I need to know who authorized this and does the Common Council know as well as the cost?

How can Mayor Bill Finch say the City is broke then turn around and spend millions of dollars to stop minority police officers from being included in Special assignments at the Police Department or to have and seek equality?

A few changes brewing at WICC. Word is Ann McManus, the general manager that took some heat in the wake of morning man John LaBarca’s firing last year, will be departing the station within days to form her own advertising agency. There’s no skinny that she’s being forced out. Generally, in the radio industry, if you’re canned they don’t keep you around. They just say sayonara, and we mean now. Ann is leaving with notice.

Sounds like Ann wants to do her own thing, or has decided to do her own thing, before station owner Cumulus Media, a media monster based in Atlanta, decides to make changes. She’s developed a boatload of client contacts through the years so she has the ability to build a client base to start her own gig. Hey, Ann, throw us some business, 40,000 pageviews at OIB the past 30 days! The days after LaBarca’s firing were intense. Thousands of angry, sometimes hateful, calls flogged the station. LaBarca was battling a number of issues that ruffled management that had nothing to do with ratings. Life goes on.

LaBarca, by the way, has landed a job at WNLK, a news-talk station in Norwalk. I love LaBarca’s replacement Tony Reno because he’s an old friend, an OIB reader and he has me on his show a lot! Same for David Smith and Jim Buchanan.

 Joe Ad-libermean

Any of you digesting some of that dung Joe Lieberman’s shoveling about transcending politics, reaching across party lines, striking a civil tone? Joe, a John McCain guy, says if he’s asked to speak at the GOP convention he’ll talk glowingly about his friend and not trash Barack. Meanwhile, on the campaign trail, Joe poises a poison dart at Barack’s every move.

When I was running campaigns, Joe was the guy I wanted more than anyone else in the state to help build credibility for a Dem candidate. And usually he was accommodating. When I managed Finch’s campaign for state senate in 2000, I wanted Lieberman at Finch’s side for Birdie’s official announcement. I especially wanted Joe there because the other Joe (Ganim) and I weren’t getting along, and I wasn’t sure he’d show up. I had stopped playing ball with him, and well, you know the rest of the story.

Lieberman was always mature, respected, endearing. Somehow, he’s morphed into this whiny, sniveling, sarcastic troll. It was a mighty crash going from Dem Veep nominee in 2000, presidential candidate 2004 to losing a primary in 2006 over his stubborn war position. But Joe did an amazing job appealing to GOP and independent voters to win the general election and save face as an independent candidate. Led by Jodi Rell, the entire GOP operation in Connecticut did an enormous tank job on the party nominee Alan Schlesinger who received just 10 percent of the vote. You’d think Joe would be gracious for the redemption, but it seems like his brain cells are fixed on the betrayal of voters that had supported him.

Joe still does his diner tours in Connecticut, but now he has all the stature of a waffle house.

Crunch time for candidates trying to qualify for public financing. Sly Salcedo, candidate for state representative challenging Democratic-endorsed Eze Santiago and Chico Rivera in the 130th State Assembly District, filed his paperwork and expects formal authorization from state election officials, as others do, next week.

The paperwork involved to qualify for the taxpayer dough is a real stick in the eye, but the payoff is worth it, especially for candidates lacking ability to raise money through traditional methods.

Democrat Marilyn Moore, former legislative aide to State Sen. Ed Gomes, also has her paperwork in as the deadline looms. She’s challenging Trumbull Town Treasurer Anthony Musto. The winner faces Republican State Sen. Rob Russo.

State Rep. Rapid Robert Keeley, fighting Auden Grogins, the blonde banshee from Black Rock, received word that he’ll get the free dough as well, minus 500 bucks or so because his use of lawn signs from previous campaigns violates the rigid public finance laws. Grogins has already secured the free loot, so both will have a total of $30,000 to spend. We’re hoping they both set aside a few bucks to stage that mud-wrestling match at Ellsworth Field. Yeah, baby! Keeley supporter Tom Kelly and Grogins fan The Bridgeport Kid will serve as special guest referees. That should ensure a complete mud riot. Lookout, everyone, poise your hoses!

Hey, what’s the deal with Rick Porto placing a lien on Congressman Chris Shay’s home in Black Rock for non-payment of a paint job? Rick says his boys did lots of work and wants $6,000. Shays says they painted two rooms and should receive half that amount. Funny thing about it, the Republicans are neighbors. Maybe they can have a paint-bomb fight from across the street. We might need Bridgeport GOP Chair Marc Delmonico to settle this. It’s always good to have a guy dealing in concrete to resolve these kinds of disputes. Maybe former GOP Chair Ricky Torres, the genial proprietor of Harborview Market, can persuade Porto not to start Republicans For Jim Himes. Oops, paging Chris Caruso. I understand the mechanics lien Porto filed says “Red, White and Screw You!”

Speaking of Himes, Shays’ November opponent (yeah, yeah, I know Himes faces a primary from that spunky Greenwich witch Lee Whitnum, but he’s going to drive a stake through her heart) has announced he’s reached the $2 million fundraising mark. Shays also has raised more than $2 million, and $3 million isn’t far behind. (God I wish I had the media buy for those guys. Let’s see now, $2 million for television at a 15 percent commission…)

The state gubernatorial election is two years away but why wait for the last minute? Former State Senate Majority Leader George Jepsen has been making the political rounds testing support for state attorney general provided Richard Blumenthal does something else like maybe run for governor or take a job with Barack or a federal judgeship, or maybe Chris Dodd doesn’t run again, or this or that. (Don’t hold your breath.) But all of this sets up intrigue. Nimble-minded George would make a terrific AG. Let’s suppose Dick does something else, but not governor, Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz, campaigner extraordinaire, runs for governor. That leaves her seat open. Hey, Mayor Bill Finch would be the perfect replacement. Bill always wanted to be Connecticut secretary of state. It provides an ideal platform for all the feel-good things he loves to talk about: voter rights, child adoption issues, educating school kids on the election process.

It also gets Birdie out of Bridgeport a year earlier! Hey, Woody, file the papers! Bird Man for CT secretary of state. I’ll lead the fan club.

It’s nice when cash-strapped nonprofits receive an infusion. Congratulations to City Lights Gallery and its Director Billy Jean Sullivan for a $50,000 state grant it will receive in support of Bridgeport’s Sweetport Music Festival.

House Speaker Jim Amann and State Rep. Bob Keeley officially announced the moolah for the gallery today at City Lights. If you’ve never been there go to the gallery on Markle Court and bring friends. Visit the Barnum a block away and savor some juniper (well, not too much) at restaurants.

This reminds me to get on my high horse about the need to promote the city’s local attractions. The city must promote its attractions and tourism destinations and I’m hopeful it will eventually become a focus of new Director of Economic Development Don Eversley.

Hartford and New Haven make it a priority and the state’s Staycation campaign currently fills the airwaves.

Promotional campaigns drive folks into the city and create an atmosphere for business recruitment. The city doesn’t sell its assets and doesn’t sell itself to Wall Street investors. The city spends money on all kinds of crap, but not on its assets: zoo, museums, ballpark, arena, theater and concert venues. Okay, the city doesn’t have the cashews to budget the money? You go to the business community to create a pool of advertising money that juices attractions. If the mayor’s office makes the appeal the business community will respond.

C’mon Bird Man — you, Sonya and the kids would look fantastico on the tube promoting city attractions. Woody (that would be Adam, chief of staff) you getting any of this? I can see you smiling!

Lemme See The Contract 

During my Pol Pod interview with Mario Testa, the Democratic town chairman referenced a resolution before the City Council requiring the legislative body to approve the contract for city Bond Counsel that advises the city on a variety of financial matters. Pullman&Comley, the law firm that employs Mayor Finch ally, former party chief John Stafstrom, currently serves that role. The City Council approves most contracts but not this one because the city attorney’s office has cited state statute that provides broad discretion for the office to hire outside legal assistance. It sets up a showdown, of sorts, between the council and the legal department that advises it. Even if the council passes the resolution, it doesn’t mean the mayor and city attorney will listen. Stay tuned.

The resolution was submitted by City Council members Bob Walsh, Evette Brantley and Jim Holloway. See below:

 Whereas, the city of Bridgeport has issued an RFP for Bond Counsel for the city of Bridgeport; and

Whereas, the RFP lists the members of the selection committee thereby acknowledging that the city attorney does not have the sole power to appoint counsel for this position; and

Whereas, the contract is advertised to be three years with two one year renewals, thereby committing the city to a serious length of time and taxpayer dollars in the procurement of these services; and

Whereas, the city council has expressed its commitment to minority contracting by passage of the Minority Contracting Ordinance; and

Whereas, minority firms have been historically excluded from this contract due to limited access to this field of law and may have been deliberately or unintentionally excluded from this bid process by the city’s requirement that respondents “must be listed in the latest edition of The Bond Buyer’s Directory of Municipal Bond Dealers of the United States,”

Be it therefore resolved that the Contracts Committee of the City Council must review and approve the contract for Bond Counsel.

Press release from Congressman Chris Shays

Blumenauer, Tauscher and Shays Introduce Bill to Help Provide Relief from High Gas Prices

Bill Supported by Coalition of Environmental, Business, and Transit Organizations

Washington, DC - Today Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore) introduced the bipartisan “Transportation and Housing Choices for Gas Price Relief Act,” H.R.6495, with Reps. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) and Christopher Shays (R-CT) as original cosponsors. With gas prices tripling over the last seven years, American families need solutions that will help them now. This bill provides immediate relief by giving people more transportation options, helping Americans reduce their commuting costs, assisting transit agencies with rising fuel costs, and increasing housing options near public transportation.

“There is no magic silver bullet that will solve the energy crisis, but there are things we can do now to reduce the impact of high gas prices on American families,” said Rep. Blumenauer. “One thing we must do is give people more transportation choices, and my bill does this by offering incentives for commuters to carpool, ride public transit, bicycle, or telecommute. By diminishing the impact of gas prices on family budgets, these common sense ideas can make an immediate difference in the lives of over-stretched Americans.”

“The most realistic way to bring down gas prices and put money back in our pockets is to reduce demand,” said Rep. Tauscher. “One key way to do that is by making public transit more accessible for people who want to get out of their cars and encouraging transit-oriented development. Today, highway congestion costs the average commuter about $707 each year, not to mention the damage it does to our environment and the time we are forced to spend stuck on the road commuting and away from our families. This bill will reduce congestion on our crowded highways, improve air quality, and help reduce the price of gas.”

“This legislation will help address our energy crisis in the short term by incentivizing consumers to use public transportation, carpool and telecommute,” said Rep. Shays. “But the key will be a long-term energy policy to decrease U.S. dependence on foreign oil, protect the environment, increase supply, build a market for renewable energy and promote energy conservation.”

The “Transportation and Housing Choices for Gas Price Relief Act” will provide immediate relief by:

· reducing commuting costs and increase commuter choices,

· helping transit agencies cope with rising fuel prices and improve service to deal with increased demand,

· assisting communities in providing transportation options for their residents,

· increasing the availability of affordable housing near public transportation, and

· ensuring that the Federal government leads by example on these issues.

The bill is supported by a coalition of environmental, business and transit groups.

“Rising prices at the pump are a painful burden for consumers and the economy, and the ‘Transportation and Housing Choices for Gas Price Relief Act’ is a terrific response,” said Deron Lovaas, Transportation Policy Director for Natural Resources Defense Council. “Representatives Blumenauer, Tauscher and Shays have written a prescription for immediate relief in the form of incentives to take transit and telework coupled with lasting solutions such as construction of new rail lines and help with housing purchases in areas near public transportation. NRDC applauds this bill and the smart, effective approach it takes to moving us beyond costly oil addiction.”

“Americans are resourceful people, and we are trying everything we can think of to reduce our exposure to expensive gasoline,” said Geoff Anderson, President and CEO of Smart Growth America . “This bill is timely acknowledgment of what more and more Americans are discovering: We need better options, and we need them fast. Having fostered increasing oil dependence for decades, the least our government can do is speed relief to over-burdened transportation agencies and begin the work of building an America where our quality of life is not dependent on cheap gas.”

Read more about the Transportation and Housing Choices for Gas Price Relief Act.