White House, citing solar and rail projects, warns GOP against nixing stimulus cash

By Ben Geman - 11/19/10 05:53 PM ET

The White House is warning a senior Republican appropriator that cutting unspent funds from the big 2009 stimulus law would hurt his state by halting solar and high-speed rail projects.

Canceling unspent stimulus funds is part of the House Republicans’ “Pledge to America” blueprint.

But a White House letter to Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) – the top Republican on the Appropriations Committee – that Reuters obtained calls this a bad idea.

Acting budget chief Jeffrey Zients’ Nov. 17 letter says tens of thousands of jobs would be lost if Republicans cut off roughly $12 billion in unspent funds, their story states.

“Zients said several projects in Lewis's home state of California would be affected: $2 billion to build high-speed rail service between Anaheim and San Francisco; a $1.4 billion solar power complex in the Mojave Desert; and a $33 million rail-crossing upgrade to relieve congestion,” Reuters reported.

Lewis wants to be chairman of the powerful spending committee when Republicans take over next year but has competition from Reps. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) and Jack Kingston (R-Ga.).