"Hard" Infrastructure Framework Announced

 

Yesterday's announcement of a deal on "hard" infrastructure between the White House and Senate Republicans intentionally left some important "human" infrastructure out to be considered separately. Ten Republicans have reportedly signed on to the deal, which goes to the Senate and then to the House for a vote. Republicans refused to reverse any of Dear Leader's gigantic 2017 tax giveaway to the ultra-wealthy and major corporations (who are "people, my friend!"). NPR has a breakout summary of the proposed deal, which will almost certainly be fought by corrupt obstructionist Sen. Moscow Mitch McConnell:

Transportation: $312 billion

• Roads, bridges, major projects: $109 billion
• Safety: $11 billion
• Public transit: $49 billion
• Passenger and freight rail: $66 billion
• Electric vehicles: $7.5 billion
• Electric buses/transit: $7.5 billion
• Reconnecting communities: $1 billion
• Airports: $25 billion
• Ports and waterways: $16 billion
• Infrastructure financing: $20 billion

Other infrastructure: $266 billion

• Water: $55 billion
• Broadband: $65 billion
• Environmental remediation: $21 billion
• Power, including grid authority: $73 billion
• Western water storage: $5 billion
• Resilience: $47 billion

The President's proposed spending on most climate change initiatives, on child and elder care, education and other projects will be contained in separate legislation, to be offered as a package at the same time as this "hard" infrastructure bill, but with the assumption that it will have to be passed through reconciliation needing only 51 votes in the Senate. Both Biden and Speaker Nancy Pelosi said there would be no infrastructure bill without the "reconciliation" bill that covers "human" infrastructure.