National Association of Counties * Washington, DC / Vol. 30, No. 8 * April 27, 1998

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A report commissioned by the Joint Center for Sustainable Communities is attracting national attention to the important role that metropolitan areas play in the nation's economy and to the emerging cooperation between cities and counties in pushing a common agenda.

David Broder, a nationally syndicated Washington Post columnist, wrote about the report and its implications on March 29, after attending a briefing by NACo's Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) and the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) a week earlier.

The report ranks the economies of the nation's 314 metropolitan areas, showing their place among states and nations.

"It is not a total surprise to learn that if California were a nation, it would boast the seventh-largest economy in the world, larger than China and just behind Italy," Broder wrote.

"It is a bit more shocking to discover that the Sacramento metropolitan area by itself outranks the economies of 14 states and ranks right up there with Ukraine, Iran and the Czech Republic," he continued.

Sacramento ranks 36th among metropolitan areas. The New York City metropolitan area's economy is larger than all but five states and is bigger than Mexico's. Los Angeles' economy out produces Taiwan's.

The nation's 10 largest metropolitan areas account for $1.9 trillion of the nation's $8 trillion economy. If combined, those metropolitan areas would have the fourth largest economy in the world, behind the U.S., Japan and Germany.

LUCC and USCM unveiled the report March 19 on Capitol Hill to illustrate the importance of investing in infrastructure in metropolitan areas. The groups then visited with representatives and senators to push ISTEA legislation. It was the first time the two groups have lobbied together from a common agenda.

"All these economic comparisons serve to buttress the claims of mayors and county officials, for whom the report was prepared, to an increased voice in the policy decisions that affect the future of the whole country," Broder wrote.

Broder's column discussed the emerging cooperation between urban counties and cities based on the problems they share with infrastructure and traffic congestion.

The report also caught the attention of The Associated Press, which quoted NACo President Randy Johnson: "The economic dynamism of metro areas enables and enhances our nation's global competitiveness. But without adequately funding our nation's infrastructure, our competitiveness declines." The AP story was picked up by newspapers across the nation.

In addition, The Dow Jones International News, The Salt Lake Tribune, The Dallas Morning News, The Bond Buyer and The U.S. Newswire also covered the report and the joint lobbying effort between USCM and LUCC.

The report was prepared by Standard & Poor's DRI, and was presented by Sara Johnson, chief regional economist.

Fortune magazine ranks NACo in top 100 lobbying groups

A recent survey of political power in Washington by Fortune magazine ranked NACo among the top 100 lobbying groups in the nation. NACo finished 96th.

The magazine enlisted both Democrat and Republican polltakers to survey about 2,200 Washington insiders about the most effective lobbying groups.

In the accompanying article, the magazine reports on the changing power structure in Washington. "Our survey rebuts one of the oldest axioms of lobbying: that campaign contributions buy power in Washington," the article by Jeffrey H. Birnbaum says.

Instead, the survey found that members of Congress and insiders think the most effective lobbying groups are those that represent a large number of members from all over the country.