Infrastructure

Why do Republicans hate infrastructure?

House Republicans passed a rules package last month that treats the Highway Trust Fund as part of general revenue, tearing down the firewall that prevents the fund from being spent on unrelated projects. The trust finances state highway and transit projects through the federal gas tax—a tax exclusively earmarked for investing in our highway, bridge and rail systems. And since its creation in 1956, the fund has put tens of thousands of construction trades men and women to work.

But the GOP's move puts future job growth at risk. By treating the fund as general spending, Congress can easily withhold monies for future transportation projects, making it appear they are doing something about the deficit.