President Joe Biden debuted a new pitch for his $2.25 trillion jobs and infrastructure plan, contending during a stop in Louisiana that public works projects were a matter of life or death.
Biden argued Thursday that the state of the country’s bridges was not only inconvenient but also an issue of public safety if firefighters and paramedics could not reach those in need of help or if people were cut off from hurricane evacuation routes.
“In addition, more than 1 in 5 miles of our highways in the United States of America, major roads in America, are in poor condition. One in 5 miles. That’s more than a safety hazard. That is a drain on our economy,” the president said against the backdrop of Lake Charles’ Calcasieu River Bridge.
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He concluded, “This is about creating jobs and also saving lives.”
During his, at times disjointed, remarks, Biden also emphasized that his infrastructure plan doubled as a climate change proposal. He reiterated, too, how his ideas were projected to result in more than 16 million jobs, a figure disputed by independent analysts.
“I got so tired of hearing ‘infrastructure week,'” Biden said of unsuccessful pushes by former President Donald Trump. “Nothing happened. Nothing has happened.”
“When it comes to bridges and roads, I’ve never seen a Republican or Democrat road. I just see roads,” he went on. “We can’t afford to not do it. We can’t afford to not spend the time and effort and money.”
Negotiations are intensifying over Biden’s liberal agenda, with $4 trillion in jobs, infrastructure, and social welfare priorities at the top of his list. The president has specifically spoken with West Virginia GOP Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, the top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, about her $568 billion counteroffer for traditional infrastructure. If he, his aides, and their congressional allies fail to reach a deal, they do have the option of passing a limited measure using the budgetary reconciliation process simply with Senate Democrats.
Biden’s infrastructure plan has been criticized for being overly broad, including proposing $400 billion for caregivers and senior and disabilities services. Another Republican talking point is how it would increase the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%. West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin has already indicated he would prefer a rate of 25%.
“We can pay for these things. I’m not talking about deficit spending,” Biden said Thursday.
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Biden’s so-called American Jobs Plan proposes $620 billion be spent improving roads, bridges, and public transit while also investing in electric vehicles. He is also proposing a $580 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing and innovation through initiatives such as semiconductor production and mine redemption, as well as $650 billion for broadband internet, lead pipe replacement, and electric grid modernization.
Louisiana, the site of Biden’s infrastructure sales pitch, tends to vote Republican in most federal elections.
