America needs $1.6 trillion in public investments to get our infrastructure up to date, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers. New America's Economic Growth program, led by Sherle Schwenninger, argues that not only is it necessary, but in a time of recession, infrastructure-based stimulus is the best way to revive the economy.

So it's heartening to see that with rust-belt states coming up on the primary horizon, more presidential candidates are supporting public investment.

Barack Obama finally gave teeth to his economic revitalization strategy during a speech at a General Motors plant in Janesville, Wisconsin Wednesday morning in which he proposed $60 billion for a “National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank” that would fund an array of projects to rebuild America’s crumbling infrastructure, create millions of jobs, and be essential to reorient our debt-driven growth.Hillary Clinton, soon after the collapse of the I-35 bridge in Minnesota, launched the Rebuild America Plan and co-sponsored the National Infrastructure Bank Act by Senators Chris Dodd and Chuck Hagel.Mike Huckabee advocates bringing spending in other countries down and proposes investing heavily in U.S. infrastructure.

Barack Obama – Speech in Janesville, WI VIDEO
USAToday – Obama to call for $60B 'Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank'
Hillaryclinton.com – Rebuild America Plan
ABC Debate – Mike Huckabee on Infrastructure VIDEO
mikehuckabee.com – Plan to Strengthen America’s Infrastructure