The Perils of Passing a Non-Infrastucture-Focused Bill in the US

When it comes to passing an infrastructure bill in the US, it seems that the road to getting meaningful change is filled with numerous obstacles. The issue is not merely about getting the bill passed; it's about ensuring that the bill is filled with actual infrastructure spending. Despite the current rhetoric and promises, the reality is far from what many hoped for.

Introducing the Current State of Infrastructure Spending

Recent bills labeled as infrastructure packages have barely scratched the surface in terms of actual infrastructure spending. Of the latest 1.9 trillion ‘infrastructure bill’, only about 17% has anything to do with actual infrastructure. With the exception of interstate highways, the majority of the spending falls under state and municipal responsibilities.

The Wedge between Federal and Local Responsibilities

Most road construction, with the exception of the Interstate freeway system, is controlled by local governments. Therefore, it is not the federal government's responsibility to fix city roads. Local taxes and state taxes are already being funnelled towards road repairs, but this money is often not going towards what needs to be done. Instead, it is being directed towards politically motivated assistance programs designed to secure re-election for politicians, at the expense of actual infrastructure.

The Hidden ‘Pork’ in Bill Passing

For those sponsoring the bill, the temptation is to add pork barrel projects. Not only does this benefit friends and provide kickbacks, but it also ensures that the bill will be passed, even if the essential infrastructure spending is diluted. hidden within the bill are laws and projects that would never have passed on their own.

Often, the money raised via new or existing taxes is placed into the General Fund, where it can be directed towards anything except new infrastructure. The funds are simply re-purposed, and as a result, the actual infrastructure spending falls short.

Democrat-Controlled House and Boondoggle Social Programs

When the Democrat-controlled House focuses on spending trillions of dollars on boondoggle social programs, it further complicates matters. This influx of money is not necessarily allocated towards infrastructure but towards politically motivated initiatives, many of which have only a tenuous connection to actual infrastructure.

Key Expenditures in the Proposed Infrastructure Bill

Some of the proposed expenditures in the bill include:

Of these expenditures, only one (the expansion of broadband internet) has a real association with traditional infrastructure. The rest are focused on a range of social programs and might not be the most efficient use of infrastructure funding.

Additionally, the plan for expanding broadband internet is problematic. The proposal speaks of government and NGO control, pushing out private sector providers. This is a clear overreach of federal authority, as the US Constitution does not grant the federal government any such powers. Moreover, it is concerning that the government would seek direct access to service providers, potentially becoming their service provider.

Given the current state of affairs, it's important to scrutinize the bill carefully and ensure that the focus remains on actual infrastructure spending. The current approach risks squandering valuable resources on social programs that, while important, may not address the pressing infrastructure needs of the nation.