AFP: Time to Focus Less on Arbitrary Dollar Figures, More on Real Reforms to Improve Infrastructure

Jun 24, 2021 by AFP

Arlington, Va. – On Thursday, President Biden announced that he’d reached an agreement with Senate negotiators on an infrastructure package. The president also emphasized that the so-called deal would not get his signature without a commitment that a multi-trillion dollar package of wasteful spending and partisan priorities pass through reconciliation.

Americans for Prosperity Chief Government Affairs Officer Brent Gardner issued the following statement:

“The president has made clear this proposal is just the first step of a two part dance to pass a partisan reconciliation package of wasteful spending that paves the way for higher taxes on small businesses and everyday Americans. It’s time for Washington to put the partisan ‘my way or the highway’ approach to policymaking aside and focus less on an arbitrary dollar figure that both sides can stomach and more on passing actual reforms that would truly improve infrastructure.”

AFP recently launched a campaign focused on finding better ways to address infrastructure needs called “End Washington Waste: Stop the Spending Spree.” Lawmakers who want to improve roads and bridges should instead consider the following reforms:

Overhauling the regulatory and permitting system to modernize infrastructure reviews and reduce project costs
Eliminating costly and unfair labor restrictions
Preserving federal infrastructure dollars for targeted construction projects of a national priority and putting an end to the practice of spending gas tax revenues on non-highway projects
Unleashing private investment in infrastructure assets
Returning power and responsibility to the states wherever possible.

For additional questions or an interview, please reach out to Lo Isidro at LIsidro@afphq.org.