Biden pledges job creation with next phase of stimulus plan

DES MOINES - Vice President Joe Biden said Monday the Obama administration is confident it will create 600,000 jobs in the next 100 days with spending from the federal economic stimulus package.

The second phase of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act includes a wide range of government projects that include such things as keeping police officers on the job, energy efficiency projects in national parks and improvements for 90 veterans' medical centers in 38 states.

More than 4,000 infrastructure improvement projects already have been approved for such things as highways, transit systems and airports.

"You're going to see an awful lot of activity all across America," Biden told reporters on a conference call.

Biden, who is overseeing the plan's implementation, said the stimulus package created or saved 150,000 jobs in the first 100 days.

Tax credits also have created new jobs, Biden said, citing a transformer factory in Missouri that's been helped out by credits extended to a wind farm.

"The orders for transformers are up, people are being employed in the factory. They're making good, decent wages. The story can be retold many times across the country," Biden said.

In a statement, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele questioned the job creation numbers and said they have not lived up to President Barack Obama's promise.

"Republicans want to work with the president to get our economy back on track, but the president seems intent on promoting and adopting some of the most liberal and reckless government intervention economic policies we have ever seen," Steele said.

Biden acknowledged that some critics have said the first phase of the recovery act moved too slowly, but Biden defended the progress, saying they've been careful to ensure the money is spent correctly.

States, including Iowa, have seen benefits from the recovery act, especially in safety net programs such as Medicaid, food assistance programs and unemployment insurance.

Thousands of teachers' jobs in the country have been saved as well, Biden said.

Iowa Lt. Gov. Patty Judge, at an education forum over the weekend, said the federal stimulus package could have $2.5 billion impact on Iowa, including $387 million for education efforts.

Also included in that tally is almost $620 million for health that includes increased aid to Medicaid, the health care program for the poor, child care and nutrition programs and assistance for Veterans in Iowa.

Another $400 million is included to retrain and assist Iowa's unemployed; an additional $400 million will help repair Iowa's highway infrastructure, airports and transit systems, Judge said.

On the Web -- Details on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act can be found at www.whitehouse.gov/recovery .