Labor Day Speech: President to call for $50 billion spending surge on infrastructure

President Barack Obama is expected to call for a $50-billion surge in spending on the nation’s roads, runways, and railroads in a speech to be given later today.

Associated Press reports that the infrastructure plan is expected to go toward fixing 150,000 miles of road, 4,000 miles of railway, and 150 miles of runways.

The modest dollar figure and unspecific predictions were in sharp contrast to the $814 billion stimulus program passed last year, which also included billions for infrastructure improvements and was promoted by the administration as a job creator, the L.A. Times reports.

In his weekly address Friday, the president talked about America’s struggling middle class and the importance of honoring U.S. workers on Labor Day: