RI lawmakers propose recession relief

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A prominent Rhode Island lawmaker wants to speed up approved public works projects to create jobs in a state hammered by one of the worst unemployment rates in the country .

Rep. Steven Costantino said Wednesday that budget officials have identified hundreds of millions of dollars earmarked for projects that have not started. Rhode Island has approved $570 million in spending on these projects, but state officials have not signed contracts for more than a third of that funding.

Directors in Gov. Donald Carcieri's administration have identified another $351 million in projects that could begin quickly if they had funding.

Rhode Island and Michigan posted a 9.3 percent unemployment rate in October , the worst in the nation. Major job losses have hurt Rhode Island's construction industry.