Councilman Wants Philadelphia Government To Buy Local
By Mike Dunn
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - On tap in City Council: a proposal that would require City Hall to buy 'Made in America" -- at least when the price isn't way out of line.
Introduced in City Council Thursday was a bill that would change the purchasing practice of Philadelphia city government, so that more American products are selected even if slightly more expensive.
"We have a large amount of money where we spend buying equipment and supplies and building buildings, and cars and trucks and uniforms and all kinds of things," says the bill's sponsor, Councilman-at-large Jim Kenney (pictured, right).
Under his bill, American made products would be chosen by the city's Procurement Department, as long as they are within 5-10% of the cheaper, foreign-made product. And he says brands are not the issue, point of production is.
"For example, Nissan in the United States: 15% of the car is foreign; the rest of it is made in America."
Kenney's bill will be debated in committee this spring.
