RTP, N.C.– It is not a good sign when some of  state’s congressmen describe our economic crisis as “undoubtedly the scariest time”, “catastrophic” and “very frightening during the worst recession since the Great Depression.”

Democratic U.S. Representatives Bob Etheridge, Brad Miller and David Price know they have a lot of work ahead of them on a stimulus package to put Americans back to work.

They explained the federal aid and timeline to area chamber of commerce representatives in Research Triangle Park Tuesday morning.

The two year stimulus plan could add up to $775 billion.

“So we get some long overdue school construction underway, some highway and transit projects done, but we do it in a way that creates jobs and stimulates the economy in short order,” said Congressman Price.

Congressman Etheridge serves on the House Ways & Means Committee which will be responsible for almost half of the money flowing through the recovery bill.
 
“We’re the tenth largest state and I’d like to think we’d get a substantial chunk of money out of it,” said Rep. Etheridge.

Both President-elect Barack Obama and the Congress have been discussing an economic discovery package but have yet to finalize the details of it. Etheridge has asked Obama to include tax credits to fund local school construction.