• With worst outbreak in U.S., CDC recommends Michigan shut down,
Plan would raise corporate taxes
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden wants Congress to know he’s sincere about cutting a deal on infrastructure, but the White House is also highlighting needed repairs and upgrades state-by-state that cost far more than what Republicans are willing to spend.
Mr. Biden met Monday afternoon with a bipartisan group of lawmakers and tried to assure them the Oval Office gathering was not “window dressing.” One of the core disputes is what counts as infrastructure in his $2.3 trillion proposal that would also raise corporate taxes.
“I’m prepared to negotiate as to the extent of my infrastructure project, as well as how we pay for it,” Mr. Biden said. “It’s going to get down to what we call ‘infrastructure.‘”
The meeting came as the White House released stateby-state breakdowns Monday that show the dire shape of roads, bridges, the power grid and housing affordability, among other issues. Mr. Biden’s team is making a direct argument for lawmakers to put their constituents ahead of their ideologies. An appeal to the broader public is unlikely to resonate much with Republican lawmakers who have already blasted the plan.
The figures in the state summaries paint a decidedly bleak outlook for the world’s largest economy after years of repairs being deferred and delayed. They suggest too much infrastructure is unsafe for vehicles at any speed, while highlighting the costs of extreme weather events that have become more frequent with climate change, as well as dead spots for broadband and a dearth of child care options.
Among the four Republicans on the White House guest list Monday were Sens. Roger Wicker, of Mississippi and Sen. Deb Fischer, of Nebraska, and Reps. Garret Graves, of Louisiana, and Don Young, of Alaska. Democrats on the list were Sens. Maria Cantwell, of Washington, and Alex Padilla, of California, and Reps. Donald Payne Jr., of New Jersey, and David Price, of North Carolina.
Drawn from an array of private and public data, the state reports show there are 7,300 miles of highway in Michigan alone that are in poor condition. Damaged streets in North Carolina impose an average yearly cost of $500 on motorists.
Iowa has 4,571 bridges in need of repair.
There is a roughly 4-in-10 chance a public transit vehicle in Indiana might be ready for the scrap yard. Pennsylvania’s schools are short $1.4 billion for maintenance and upgrades.
Most states received a letter grade on their infrastructure. West Virginia earned a D. So did Biden’s home state of Delaware. Of the states rated, the highest grade went to Georgia and Utah, which each notched a C-plus. The lowest grade, Dminus, went to the territory of Puerto Rico.
The administration is banking the data will confirm the everyday experiences of Americans as they bump over potholes, get trapped in traffic jams and wait for buses that almost never correspond to published schedules.
There is already a receptive audience to the sales pitch, and the strategy is that public support can overcome any congressional misgivings.