Support smaller bipartisan infrastructure legislation

On June 24, President Biden, along with a group of five Democratic and five Republican senators, arrived at a bipartisan infrastructure framework. The total cost would be $1.2 trillion and financed over five years.

About $621 billion will come from unspent COVID-19 funds, and the remaining $579 billion will be new spending, which includes roads, bridges, the electric grid, rail, broadband, water, transit and other hard infrastructure projects.

Given the recent partial collapse of a condominium in Surfside, this becomes especially important.

With no tax increases, the financing will be from tougher IRS enforcement, unspent relief funds and corporate user fees. Congress last passed an infrastructure bill six years ago with overwhelming support at $300 billion.

Soft infrastructure spending, like childcare, Medicare and other socialwelfare programs financed by tax increases, would cost up to an additional $6 trillion.

This includes Biden’s American Jobs Plan for $1.7 trillion, American Family Plan at $1.8 trillion, and another $1.3 trillion for other progressive priorities.

This larger plan does not have bipartisan support and will not get the 10 Republican senators necessary to overcome the filibuster.

Furthermore, Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia will not support such a large proposal, so it will never pass.

The president and Congress have an opportunity to get something done for the American people.

They just have to show some flexibility and backbone.

The average American who supports commonground solutions shouldsupport this smaller bipartisan infrastructure framework. – Kenneth Karger,

Kendall