By Maria Altman, KWMU
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kwmu/local-kwmu-829242.mp3
St. Louis –
Missouri's share of the federal stimulus package is more than $4 billion, but Democratic and Republican lawmakers in Jefferson City have very different ideas on how to spend that money.
Republicans favor one-time projects, such as road construction, while Democrats have argued for shoring up funding for social services. We spoke with two Washington University economics professors, Steve Fazzari and Michele Boldrin, who have very different perspectives on the stimulus package and how Missouri should spend its share.
KWMU's Maria Altman began with Professor Fazzari, who is generally optimistic about the stimulus. On Friday we'll hear a much different view from Michele Boldrin, the chair of Washington University's economics department.
RELATED STORY:
In January, Steve Fazzari duked it out with George Mason University economist Russell Roberts over the stimulus in a Planet Money segment on Morning Edition.