Seattle - The state of Washington has gone to the White house in hopes of getting more federal money for jobs.
The focus of the state's effort is the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the stimulus funds it controls.
Across the nation you can see signs on highway construction projects touting that this project or that project is funded with the stimulus money.
How much has been spent here in Washington? According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, more than a million working hours have been generated through the stimulus funding. That comprises some $40 million in wages so far.
It's money much needed - 28 of Washington's 39 counties are defined as economically distressed .
Two of the current projects include a new north bound lane on Interstate 405 through Bothell and the work at Interstate 5 and the Port of Tacoma road. Other projects, such as work on Interstate 90 near and over Snoqualmie Pass. have now been suspended for the winter. These are just a few examples of the wage-generating projects.
That is why Paula Hammond, Washington's Secretary of Transportation attended a White House meeting with President Barack Obama, Federal Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and other public and private executives as part of the President's jobs summit.
At the summit Hammond is asking for more - another $750 million for 148 state and local highway projects. The state says those projects would be ready to go in 120 days. And, the state says it has other transit projects that are "shovel ready" as well..
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