THE BRIEFING ROOM * THE BLOG
Friday, February 20th, 2009 at 11:07 am
On the front lines
[[[Image:_MG_6050--red.jpg|440px|President]] Obama meeting with the nation's mayors ]"You're on the front lines," President Obama told a gathering of 85 mayors in the East Room of the White House this morning.
Mayors and governors have to keep balanced budgets, so they are familiar with the pain that comes with making cuts that broad and deep, he said.
[[[Image:_MG_9332-red.jpg|314px|President]] Obama listens to a question from one of the nation's mayors ]
And when that happens, people "turn to the mayor's office for help."
That's why the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides much needed assistance to states, cities, and towns that are in desperate need of it to keep from making major cuts in essential services, and to save jobs.
But more than that, by investing in health care, education, and infrastructure, the ARRA will "make our metropolitan areas more livable and sustainable."
In return, the President said he expects an unprecedented level of vigilance in making sure the money from the act is spent efficiently and wisely.
"We can't tolerate business as usual -- not in Washington, not in our state capitals, not in our cities and towns."
[[[Image:_MG_5983--red.jpg|468px|Vice]] President Joe Biden addresses the nation's mayors ]
White House photos 2/20/09 by Pete Souza
MD5: 27424897746b1e4da191b9f741355922 Original URL: http://whitehouse.gov/blog/09/02/20/On-the-front-lines/