In our recent report, we used the term “Fix It First”. As Picasso reportedly says, “Great Artists Steal”, the term has been in circulation for a few years. I do not know the first reference, (here it is at least 2002) but it has taken off since Aug 1, 2007:

• Transportation 4 America: Americans want Congress to ‘fix it first’, invest in and improve our transportation system
• Sierra Club
• EDF: State of the Union: Let’s Fix-it-First and Fix-it-for-All
• DCist: Transit on Thursday: Fix It First Edition (Aug 2007)
• US PIRG: URGE THE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE TO “FIX IT FIRST”
• National Governor’s Association: Fixing It First: Targeting Infrastructure Investments to Improve State Economies and Invigorate Existing Communities
• EPA Adopting ‘Fix-it-First’ Infrastructure Policy — For Water
• “Fix it first!” New projects get the headlines, but we need to repair what we already have“In January 2003, just days after being sworn in as governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney stood alongside a structurally deficient bridge on Route 2 and said: “Fix it first!””
• Governor’s Institute: Adopt a “fix-it-first” approach
• NRDC: The infrastructure crisis: fix it first, fund it, and be strategic
• The White House, 2012 Budget