HARRISBURG — Gov. Ed Rendell on Thursday called on Congress to match the proposed financial industry bailout with an additional $100 billion to improve roads, bridges, dams and other elements of the nation's infrastructure.

Rendell released a letter he sent to members of Pennsylvania's congressional delegation a half-hour after Democrats and Republicans in Washington announced an agreement in principle on a $700 billion bailout plan.

The Democrat said his infrastructure initiative would help recharge the American economy by improving public facilities and creating nearly 5 million good-paying jobs.

"The government has stopped investing in America and Wall Street has stopped investing in America," Rendell said. "Wall Street hasn't been invested in railroads. It hasn't invested in steel. It hasn't invested in ordinary manufacturing. It's invested in all these tricks ... that create a tremendous financial upside and windfall for the investors but don't do anything for hometown America."

Rendell also urged a prompt overhaul of regulations governing the financial sector to avoid similar crises in the future.