President Donald Trump’s infrastructure plan continues to disappoint Senate Democrats who are critical of a proposal that relies heavily on private sector investors to advance large-scale infrastructure projects.
Democrats on the Environment and Public Works Committee who were against the White House’s decision in February to use $200 billion in federal funds to spark additional infrastructure investments of $1.3 trillion over a decade, voiced their concerns again on July 11.
“If we want to modernize America’s infrastructure, we have to be committed to making those investments,” said Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.). “The administration assumes that as a condition of receiving federal assistance, cash-strapped states and local governments will have to work with private investors to cover the other $1.3 trillion by using credit programs.”
“One of the things President Trump tried to do is leverage more of the federal funds by asking the states and local governments to come up with more of their funds,” Cardin said. “I’m one who believes, as I think the majority of this committee believes, we should be having a more robust federal infrastructure program with federal funds.”
