CEO DATELINE - Associations hopeful infrastructure deal will become reality
CEO DATELINE - Associations hopeful infrastructure deal will become reality
- May 1, 2019 |
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Walt Williams
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President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders in Congress tentatively agreed to a $2 trillion infrastructure deal Wednesday, which some business groups saw as progress on the issue.
Infrastructure spending has been a top priority for many associations in recent years, but so far lawmakers have been unable to come up with a plan to pay for it. The deal announced by the White House included no details on where the money would come from, leading political observers to question whether it will actually come to pass.
Business groups were cautious in their praise, instead painting the proposal as a step in the right direction rather than an outright policy victory.
"Americans are literally wasting billions of dollars and millions of hours stuck in traffic because there has not been the necessary investment and maintenance of our nation's roads and bridges," American Trucking Associations CEO Chris Spear said in a statement. "We are encouraged to hear President Trump, Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer and other key Congressional Democrats are in agreement on a 'big, bold' vision to invest as much as $2 trillion on our deteriorating infrastructure."
ATA has proposed a 20-cent increase in the federal fuel tax phased in over four years as a potential source of infrastructure revenue, saying the tax would generate $340 billion in funds.
American Road & Transportation Builders Association CEO Dave Bauer called the deal a "positive and constructive step."
"The foundational pillar of any long-term infrastructure package is a sustainable, growing, user-fee based revenue stream for the Highway Trust Fund," he said in a statement. "It remains the linchpin for any final and meaningful deal between the Trump administration and Congress."
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Tom Donohue applauded Trump and Democratic leaders "for recognizing the importance and urgency behind enacting common sense, bipartisan infrastructure legislation."
"Business and labor are united in supporting a solution that can be agreed upon by President Trump and Congress," he said. "This is not a partisan issue, it's an American priority. And now is the time for action."
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