Infrastructure

Trump Rallies To Tout Infrastructure Plan With Dismal Prospects

President Donald Trump went to Ohio on Thursday to stir support for his infrastructure plan, but his plan way overshoots what Congress plans to spend.

Trump Rallies To Tout Infrastructure Plan With Dismal Prospects
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President Donald Trump traveled to Ohio on Thursday for a rally-like address that was billed as a sales pitch for his grand plan to improve the country's infrastructure.

"We are like, in many cases, a third world country," Trump said.

As his speeches typically go, he veered largely off-script, talking gun control, the so-called border wall and Roseanne Barr.

"Look at her ratings! Look at her ratings!" he said. 

But his policy message was this: put more money into revitalizing America's transportation corridors. He touted his plan to spur $1.5 trillion in infrastructure investment. Under the plan, the feds would have to approve $200 billion in new investment. So far, Congress has only approved $21 billion — way, way short of the president's lofty goal. 

Congress has a few bills it could vote on before the midterm elections, but most of that is just reauthorizing funding for existing projects, not approving new investment. What's more, Congress doesn't have a clear source for new funding, and many don't want to add to the country's deficit.