FEDERALISM AND AMERICA'S PUBLIC WORKS

In: Publius: the journal of federalism, Band 18, Heft 3, S. 97-112

Abstract

ON 24 FEBRUARY 1988, THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON PUBLIC WORKS IMPROVEMENT SUBMITTED ITS FINAL REPORT ON THE NATION'S PUBLIC WORKS TO THE PRESIDENT AND THE CONGRESS. THE REPORT CONCLUDED THAT AMERICA'S INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT IN RUINS, AS CHARGED BY THE LANDMARK BOOK ENTITLED AMERICA IN RUINS. THE REPORT DID SAY, HOWEVER, THAT THE NATION'S INFRASTRUCTURE IS ONLY BARELY ADEQUATE AND GETTING WORSE. THE COUNCIL URGED THE NATION TO REVERSE COURSE AND GIVE GREATER ATTENTION TO INFRASTRUCTURE RENEWAL AND EXPANSION. IN THE COUNCIL'S VIEW, FEDERALISM WILL BE A MAJOR FACTOR IN THE SUCCESS OF THE NEEDED TURNAROUND. SUCH CHANGE WILL REQUIRE SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES INVOLVING THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS PLUS THE PRIVATE SECTOR. SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THESE ACTORS HAVE MADE THE 1980S A DECADE OF TRANSITION, DIMINISHING FEDERAL INFLUENCE ON INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES.