Bloomberg Calls for Action on U.S. Infrastructure

Mayor Bloomberg is headlining a $100-a-ticket fund-raising breakfast for the Independence Party of Minnesota on Friday, before appearing with Governor Rendell of Pennsylvania to make an announcement about national infrastructure.

Messrs. Bloomberg and Rendell are on a two-day tour to promote infrastructure investment that began yesterday at the National Conference of State Legislatures gathering in New Orleans.

The officials said yesterday that they are expanding an organization they co-founded in January with Governor Schwarzenegger of California, the Building America's Future Coalition, which seeks to make funding infrastructure projects a national priority.

State legislators from around the country are now among the group's newest members. Messrs. Bloomberg and Rendell also invited a Republican candidate for president, Senator McCain, and a Democratic candidate for president, Senator Obama, to participate in a town hall meeting on infrastructure.

"Closing the gap is going to take real political courage and leadership," Mr. Bloomberg said yesterday, referring to securing funding for the country's roads and bridges. "Infrastructure is not a glamorous topic and that's why we're here to rally support for these issues which are critical to the future of our country."

The coalition co-chairmen are appearing this morning on a radio show hosted by Governor Pawlenty of Minnesota.