CITIES ASK FEDS TO FUND MORE PROJECTS

CITIES ASK FEDS TO FUND MORE PROJECTS    The National League of Cities issued a proposed a federal economic plan that includes $15 billion in unrestricted grants to help the fiscally strapped states with transportation and other infrastructure needs and $2.5 billion for transportation projects at the local level.
   NIC called on the Bush administration and Congress to provide $5 billion to states for highway and transportation funds and $10 billion to address homeland security and infrastructure needs such as airport and port security, bio-terrorism and security at chemical and nuclear plants.
   The National Governors Association estimates that states face $67 billion in budgetary shortfalls in 2003.