Washington ( CNN ) -- President Barack Obama called Monday for Congress to approve a $ 50 billion plan to begin upgrading the nation 's crumbling infrastructure , saying such an investment is vital to creating much-needed construction jobs and keeping the nation competitive in the global economy . In a Rose Garden statement at the White House , Obama called for bipartisan support when Congress returns after the November 2 mid-term elections so that the first phase of a proposed six-year infrastructure development plan can begin . `` We 've always had the best infrastructure , '' Obama said , noting that one in five construction workers are unemployed right now . `` This is work that needs to be done . There are workers ready to do it . All we need is political will . '' The president first announced the plan on Labor Day , and present and former Cabinet members as well as some governors and mayors around the nation joined him to support the initiative . Despite their call , it remains uncertain if the issue can overcome the deep partisan divide in Congress , especially after an election expected to erode Democratic majorities in both chambers or even return Republicans to control . The main Republican campaign theme for the upcoming election has been excessive government spending under Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress that has failed to lower the unemployment rate below 9 percent . In particular , Republicans say the $ 787 billion economic stimulus bill passed last year has failed to bring promised jobs and other economic benefits . Obama and Democrats say the stimulus bill prevented the recession that began in the previous administration from worsening into a full economic depression . Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood responded sharply on that topic when questioned by reporters Monday about whether new infrastructure spending would provide better results than the stimulus bill . Noting that the $ 48 billion in stimulus money for the transportation sector funded 14,000 projects that employed thousands of people , LaHood said that Americans know the bill worked `` because they see their friends and neighbors working on roads and bridges and transit systems . '' `` The idea that our stimulus did n't work is nonsense , '' he said . Pennsylvania Gov . Ed Rendell , a Democrat and strong Obama supporter , called stimulus spending on infrastructure `` the single best job creator we can do in this country . '' `` It created well-paying jobs that ca n't be outsourced , '' Rendell said . `` It 's just what the economy needs . '' A study by the Department of Treasury and the Council of Economic Advisers shows a majority of infrastructure-related jobs would come in the construction field , followed by manufacturing and retail . LaHood added that Congress has traditionally passed transportation bills containing infrastructure investment with strong bipartisan support . `` There are no Democratic or Republicans bridges or roads , '' he said , adding that Democratic Rep. Jim Oberstar of Minnesota , the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee , told him there is Republican support for new infrastructure investment . Obama and LaHood said the cost of new investment would be paid for , rather than adding to the debt . However , LaHood stopped short of offering specific ways to do so , saying only that a number of options were being considered . Senior administration officials say private funds also would be used for the infrastructure overhaul . They suggested the $ 50 billion from Congress could be paid for by closing loopholes in the tax code related to oil and gas production or through other cost-cutting measures . CNN 's Rachel Streitfeld contributed to this story .
NEW : Obama calls for a $ 50 billion plan to start upgrading infrastructure . NEW : Transportation secretary calls claims that stimulus bill failed `` nonsense '' Some Republicans attend a meeting with the president on the matter . The $ 50 billion could be paid for by closing tax code loopholes , some officials say .