Congressman McCaul Speaks with My FOX Austin about the Stimulus Bill

AUSTIN - Governor Rick Perry was trying to figure out how to spend the roughly $18 billion dollars Texas will receive from the economic stimulus plan before President Obama signed it. But how to spread the new found wealth is causing anxiety.

Governor Perry met with a team of advisors Tuesday morning to go through the massive stimulus plan. A proposed $2 billion would go to rail and other transportation needs.

Other funds would go to tax breaks or promoting development of clean energy like wind farms. Projects targeted for Texas, designed to keep people like Tony Kotecki employed. "Well, because I'm a contractor I'm a little anxious," said Kotecki, who writes ads for a living. Bill Steinhauser, who works in the gas and coal power industry, has his doubts. "I feel like it will have little or no impact," Steinhauser said.

For Texas, the stimulus plan promises to create more than 260,000 jobs.
In congressional districts that split up the Austin metro area, job creation is expected to run between 9,000 and 10,000. Regardless of party affiliation, local congressional leaders like Lloyd Doggett and Michael McCaul have their fingers crossed. "We all hope it is going to work, I have my concerns with the stimulus bill, not enough went into creating jobs, more went into programs that had nothing to do with creating jobs, I felt there could have bene more tax relief, more spending as in terms of infrastructure projects," McCaul said. "We do have big hopes because we have one big problem, this country could be sliding into a depression, if we are not able to turn it around, so this imperfect bill was our best hope at trying to turn it around a do many different things in order to stop a bad situation from getting any worse," Doggett said. Cash for things like rail projects are expected to flow from federal agencies. Many others, designed to be felt on main street, will pass through state agencies.

Time is critical, with lines at job fairs continuing to grow, but there could be a few speed bumps. The application process for local communities is still being developed. Other amounts may require members of the legislature to change state laws, because there are strings attached. This is not a take it all or you'l get nothing plan. States can turn down some items. And right now the governor is checking to see if any part of the plan could end up costing the state.