Obama adviser: Robert Reich White males need not apply

Robert Reich tells House panel stimulus package should emphasize 'social return' over worker skill

A top economic adviser to President Obama has told a congressional panel the billions of dollars in the proposed economic stimulus plan should be allocated with social issues in mind, to make sure the money doesn't go to just "white male construction workers" or the highly skilled.

Robert Reich, who served as labor secretary under President Clinton, was speaking to the House Steering and Policy Committee Jan. 7 about funding infrastructure projects across the nation.

"It seems to me that infrastructure spending is a very important and good way of stimulating the economy. The challenge will be to do it quickly, to find projects that can be done that will have a high social return, that also can be done with the greatest speed possible," Reich said.

"I am concerned, as I'm sure many of you are, that these jobs not simply go to high skilled people who are already professionals or to white male construction workers," he said.

The hearing took place two weeks before Obama was inaugurated.

"I have nothing against white male construction workers," Reich said. "I'm just saying there are a lot of other people who have needs as well.

"There are ways in which the money can be, criteria can be set so the money does go to others, the long term unemployed, minorities, women," he said.

Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., appeared to agree, suggesting federal money be directed to specific groups of people.



The federal government, he said, must "remove the discretion" about where the funds go, or what projects would be involved, even to the point of eliminating any input from governors or state legislatures.

Reich agreed: "Governors ought to be, should be given a choice of signing on the bottom line or not."

Then Rangel noted the "middle class" would be unlikely to create any opposition to funds directed to minorities.

"One thing that you can depend on, you don't have to be worried about what the middle class is going to do. Things are so bad, they have to put food on their tables, get clothes for their kids, get them in school," he said.