President Trump has recently revealed his $1 trillion plan to address the nation’s infrastructure concerns. Along with Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R) and a duo of lieutenant governors from Ohio, the president detailed his plan to fund repairs and improvements in infrastructure by implementing $200 billion in tax breaks. This, he said, should enable construction worth $1 trillion over time.
“A New Era of American Greatness”
In front of an audience chock-full of farmers, coal miners, and other local Ohio workers, the president said: “The theft of American prosperity has come to a screeching halt and a new era of American greatness is about to begin. It is time to recapture our legacy as a nation of builders—and to create new lanes of travel, commerce, and discovery that will take us into the future.”
One of Trump’s main focuses was water infrastructure, which he called “massively underfunded” and in “dire and even desperate” conditions. He also addressed steel workers directly, saying: “More than half of American Steel is produced within 250 miles of where we are standing—and its production depends on the inland system. Wait until you see what I’m going to do for you steel workers.”
Washington’s Response
Trump’s Infrastructure Plan had the potential to garner support from both parties, but judging from the Democrats’ response to Trump’s budget for fiscal year 2018, it doesn’t seem likely that they will get on board after all.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said that he is looking forward to working with the Trump administration to “protect and improve” infrastructure. On Wednesday, however, the White House noted a difference between President Trump’s proposal and the Obama stimulus, citing the distinction as the “focus on accountability of how federal tax dollars will be spent,” and stating that the stimulus resulted in states using their own dollars for their highways instead of federal dollars.
Streamlined Processes
“Working with states, local governments, and private industry, we will ensure that these new federal funds are matched by significant additional dollars for maximum efficiency and accountability,” Trump said. “We’re getting rid of regulations and streamlining approval processes, expediting environmental reviews—thousands and thousands of big, big jobs, thousands of them are being approved rapidly.”
Adding to these remarks, he also stated a determination to “build American, hire American” and vowing to “build because our people want to build, and we need them to build because our prosperity demands it—that is how we make America great again.”