Bloomberg Calls For Shift In Focus Over AIG Bonuses
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Mayor Michael Bloomberg is urging Americans to channel their anger over the AIG bonuses toward supporting public works programs.
Bloomberg joined California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."
The three have formed a coalition to promote rebuilding roads, bridges and other projects.
They say controversy over bonuses for AIG executives have taken the attention away from President Barack Obama's efforts to turn the struggling economy around.
"We're in a situation where we can't not spend. We've got to get people back, confident that they're not going to lose their job, not going to lose their houses," said Bloomberg. "I see it everyday. I talk to people on the subway. They are worried. Even if it hasn't hurt them directly, they see it with their neighbors. And so we've got to stop focusing on some of the publicity issues and focus on the real issue here."
The three met with President Obama on Friday to discuss ideas on how to spur the economy.