Labor unions have sent an $80 billion infrastructure wish list to President Trump, many of which are privately financed but would still need permits to move forward.
McClatchy reported more than half of the projects are completely privately financed and all but one have some amount of private financing involved. However, all of the projects are in the permitting process and the Building Trades Unions are hoping the administration can speed up the process.
Reports surfaced Monday that Trump wants to move more quickly on infrastructure now that the push to repeal Obamacare has stalled. It’s possible the administration will try to reach a deal on tax reform and infrastructure investment at the same time in Congress.
The labor union list would fit well within the priorities of the administration and Republican members of Congress who want to lessen the regulatory burden for infrastructure projects. Many people who are helping write the infrastructure proposal on Capitol Hill have cited speeding up the permitting process as a necessary part of any deal made in Congress.
McClatchy reported union officials that provided the list told the administration that if they can ease the regulatory burdens on companies trying to build the projects, then unions would provide the workers.
The Washington Examiner reported Monday that Trump’s promise to spend $1 trillion on infrastructure has not solidified into specifics. Many observers are waiting for clues from the administration on how the package will move forward, and lawmakers have been in a virtual standstill on the idea due to legislative fights on Obamacare.
Infrastructure is one of the few areas lawmakers think they can work across the aisle, and it’s been reported Trump is looking for an olive branch to offer to Democrats in order to move his legislative agenda forward.
