December 17, 2009 07:11 PM UTC

Ritter Orders Stimulus Projects to "Buy American"

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• by: Colorado Pols

As the Pueblo Chieftain reports:

In front of a crowd of about 100 steelworkers and other union officials, Gov. Bill Ritter signed an executive order Wednesday afternoon to require state agencies spending federal stimulus money to give a preference for contracts that pledge to use U.S.-made steel, iron and manufactured goods.

Ritter’s support from organized labor was shaken earlier this year when he vetoed several bills sought by unions, but he was given a standing ovation by the Pueblo steelworkers in the Local 2102 union hall Wednesday afternoon. Although it is uncertain how much money the executive order will bring to Colorado manufacturers, such as Evraz Rocky Mountain Steel, Ritter said the economic benefit should be substantial.

“At least 60 percent of the (American Reconstruction and Recovery Act) funds are still out there to be awarded,” Ritter said after the signing ceremony. “So I believe this will mean real dollars and jobs here in Colorado and the U.S. whenever a state agency awards a contract.”

The executive order essentially echoes legislation drafted by state Rep. Sal Pace, D-Pueblo, earlier this year, but that measure was blocked in the Legislature. Pace gave Ritter a ringing endorsement at Wednesday’s ceremony, acknowledging the governor had clashed at times with his labor supporters, but he said Ritter had also delivered on other key issues for union workers.

We were keen on Rep. Sal Pace’s “Buy American” bill when it came up this past session, as well as the similar provision in the federal stimulus bill that didn’t quite make it into the final markup at full strength. Like we said then, in the context of stimulus spending by the U.S. government, it makes sense to prioritize domestic suppliers where you wouldn’t necessarily do that otherwise.

And with stimulus opponents looking to poke holes in any good news that can be attributed to the American Reconstruction and Recovery Act (ARRA), including the utmost exploitation of any possible ‘stimulus dollars to China’ angle, “Buy American” makes a lot of political sense, too. And yes, we know it was the Russians who kept Pueblo’s steel mill open. The high-paying steelworker jobs are still filled locally though, so “Buy American,” comrade!

And would you look at that? Union members giving Ritter a standing ovation? Is it just us, or does that read a little better than “Anti-McInnis Tea Party?”