Tom Perez, a former federal Labor secretary and Democratic Party chair, now serves as the White House director of intergovernmental affairs. Governing spoke with Perez, a former state and county official, about the historic flow of money out of Washington.
We spoke with him before President Biden announced his decision to withdraw from the race for a second term. That move has only heightened the urgency in Perez's mission in Biden's remaining months and maintain continuity as Vice President Harris works to succeed him and continue the programs begun under their administration.
Given gridlock in D.C., what do you look for states, cities and counties to accomplish?
We work with a number of states on paid leave, to take one example. We’re the only industrialized nation on the planet that doesn’t have some form of paid leave, and the president’s a strong supporter of it. We’ve also been very supportive of minimum wage initiatives and Medicaid expansion, which pass every time they’re on the ballot in so-called red states.
What are some other intergovernmental success stories?
It was very exciting and empowering to be in front of the home of a 46-year resident of Wausau, Wis., who probably for the first time was about to get clean drinking water. People misconstrue that Flint, Mich., was the only place that had a water problem. We have water problems all across America. Ten years from now, nobody is going to have lead in the pipes that are leading into their homes and their drinking water, which has been a transformational investment.
As you send money out to states and localities, how do you make sure the oars are mostly pulling in the same direction?
We work very closely with the state and local associations because they’re looking at the whole chessboard. And with everyone I talk to, it’s really important to understand that when they look back on their careers and ask themselves when they had the greatest opportunity to make the biggest difference in their communities, this is that moment. A big part of my job is to make sure that they meet that moment, whether it’s realizing the full potential of the American Rescue Plan Act or the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law or any of the other transformational investments that have been the hallmark of the Biden-Harris administration.
What will be the priorities for your office if there’s a second Biden (or Harris*) term?
Finishing the job. There’s still at this moment unfinished business. We’re probably about 25 percent of the way through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and we’ve barely scratched the surface of the potential of the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS and Science Act. I go to New York and Idaho and Arizona and there are spectacular opportunities for $100,000-a-year jobs, and many of them don’t require a college degree.
The president is also really focused on making sure that we are protecting democracy and protecting the infrastructure of democracy. The election administrators, the folks who are defending the infrastructure of democracy, are wonderful leaders in state and local government and they’re doing heroic work.
* Governing's interview with Perez predated President Biden's decision to withdraw from the 2024 race and his endorsement of Vice President Harris.
