AUBURN -- The hundreds of billions of dollars the federal government has pumped into the economy in recent months should improve the public's confidence, Rep. Michael Arcuri said in Auburn Wednesday.

During a town hall discussion at the Auburn Public Theater, Arcuri defended the stimulus spending and told a group of residents and officials that those funds will have a positive effect in upstate New York.

Cities like Auburn have not been hit quite as hard by the economic downturn as some other regions in the country, Arcuri said, because they did not see the economic boom earlier this decade. But confidence is still down, something he said he the recent spending will act as a shot in the arm to fix.

"If we get people spending money again, that will stimulate the economy," Arcuri said.

Perhaps the biggest benefit is the creation and retention of Jobs, he said. While roads and waterways will be improved or built with stimulus money, Arcuri said this is not the main purpose of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"The purpose of the plan is to put people to work," Arcuri said.

During the meeting, Arcuri showed support for a high-speed rail system in the state. Among other topics, he also discussed the progress of a possible National Park in Auburn recognizing Harriet Tubman.

For complete coverage, see Thursday's edition of The Citizen.