Carnahan

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Intro:	St. Louis-area Congressman Russ Carnahan spoke yesterday about bringing jobs to Missouri at a state transportation meeting.
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Wrap: Jobs were on the agenda as Democratic Congressman Russ Carnahan traveled to Jefferson City.

He spoke to industry leaders at the annual Missouri Conference on Transportation.

Carnahan says lawmakers must be more open to supporting large transportation projects.

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Description: "It is the lifeblood of our economy. In the short term, it creates jobs. In the long term, it is the very foundation of economic development."

Carnahan said that for every one billion dollars invested in transportation, 35,000 jobs are created and six billion dollars are brought back to the state's economy.

With the Missouri unemployment rate at 9.5 percent, Carnahan says that proposed transportation projects will bring relief to the state's unemployed.

From Jefferson City, I'm Alon Gilboa.

Intro:	Even with Missouri's budget crisis, St. Louis-area Congressman Russ Carnahan says transportation spending is a must.
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Wrap: Carnahan addressed budget problems to a crowd of transportation industry leaders.

He said that although the statewide budget crunch is an obstacle, legislators must do more to address transportation problems.

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Description: "We've got to turn this around and we've got to do it in a challenging budget situation."

Carnahan spoke as the state's Transportation Department is facing major cuts.

MODOT's budget is in the process of getting slashed in half over five years.

Carnahan says more transportation funding will lead to economic development across Missouri.

From Jefferson City, I'm Alon Gilboa.

Intro:	St. Louis-area Congressman Russ Carnahan on Thursday echoed President Obama's talk about increasing transportation funding.
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Wrap: Carnahan told a group of transportation industry leaders that high-speed rail and expanding the port of St. Louis are keys to turning around the economy.

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Description: "We cannot expect 1930's infrastucture to carry us into the 21st century."

Carnahan says that one-third of Missouri's bridges are deficient or functionally obsolete.

A similar proportion of Missouri's roads are in poor or mediocre condition.

In his State of the Union address this week, President Obama said the US would need to modernize its aging infrastructure to

compete globally.

From Jefferson City, I'm Alon Gilboa.