"President Barack Obama is likely to propose a new public works program in a post-Labor Day speech."

Say the Bloomberg editors.

... It makes economic sense. The president should think big -- upward of $100 billion a year for at least two years...

Unfortunately, a major public works program doesn’t make political sense right now. Republicans have served notice that they intend to stand pat against new federal spending...

The editors recommend a deal:

Obama should temporarily suspend Davis-Bacon, then ask Congress to repeal the act and let the market decide wage rates, as it does for every other industry....

Such a deal would stretch federal money, resulting in more jobs, especially for less-skilled workers who have been out of work for more than six months. And it would finally allow Obama to have a Works Progress Administration-style program that’s been missing from his recovery plans.

I can't picture the Republicans accepting this. And does the public actually want a Works Progress Administration-style program?