Biden Infrastructure plan

[mindlight]

The infrastructure of any country includes education and health services.

Does this raise the deeper issue of who should pay for public goods? Republican ideological commitments appear to suggest that if the state does this then America is in danger of becoming a socialist state. The considerable concentration of wealth in the hands of a few plutocrats in the last decades is hard to justify from any kind of moral standpoint. Particularly when schools are falling down and the elderly are warehoused in towns hundreds of miles away from their families because there are no affordable local facilities. The pandemic has been a wake-up call regarding the costs of not having a proper health care system in place that it both cost-effective and comprehensive.

 

[hedrick]

The pandemic has been a wake-up call regarding the costs of not having a proper health care system in place that it both cost-effective and comprehensive.

Wakeup call implies that people wake up. I don't think we're there yet. A real attempt to deal with this is decades away, for obvious political reasons.

 

[Albion]

Does this raise the deeper issue of who should pay for public goods? Republican ideological commitments appear to suggest that if the state does this then America is in danger of becoming a socialist state.

"Public goods" have been the job of government since before we both were born, so this ^ sounds more like a campaign speech than a real issue.

 

[wing2000]

..(removed due to formatting)

 

[SimplyMe]

That is such a cool point but it raises some difficult questions for me. Why should Republican Texas which has self-sabotaged its own electrical grid with local incompetence benefit from a Federal handout. If the issue is poor local regulation that helped maximize profits of the Republican party supporting donors in the oil and electric industry then should not Texas pay for their own mistakes in energy investment planning?

To what extent is the key factor the local state governments when it comes to the state of local infrastructure?

My thought, the money would be tied to Texas meeting the Federal standards for power plants/grid and connecting to the (either Eastern or Western) "national" grid. If they choose to stand alone, then they don't need (and shouldn't want) federal money to help their plants.

 

[Pommer]

That said China is the biggest polluter on the planet and that needs to reverse the upward trends in that before it can be taken as an icon of green development.

That China has threefold the number of people as the USA might be a factor too?

 

[Sparagmos]

They're against it because they've spent the last few decades buying into dogma about big government and taxes.

Yup. Considering the desperate and precarious position the Republican Party is in, I could see them wanting to stop the flow of "good stuff" coming from the Dems, just to maintain a chance of unseating them. If the government does good things, people will want to keep the party who did them in power.

 

[Sparagmos]

This is the same argument that someone else used, but it's irrelevant to the issue here. All sorts of expenditures might be worthwhile, but the point here is that the Biden "Infrastucture" bill is mainly about funding projects OTHER THAN roads, bridges, airports, etc., yet that is what the public is being told the bill is all about and that these are the things that it will fix with the money.

Schools are absolutely infrastructure, as are power and other utility grids. Broadband is infrastructure.

 

[Albion]

Schools are absolutely infrastructure, as are power and other utility grids. Broadband is infrastructure.

Some of the listed items might be thought of that way, but that's only a sampling.

You could have listed a string of other expenditures that are not so easily classified that way, but they still cost tens of billions of dollars. And whenever this proposed legislation is balleyhooed, these never get mentioned like roads, bridges, etc. do. It's no different from the Covid relief bill that wasn't about Covid.

 

[Sparagmos]

Some of the listed items might be thought of that way, but that's only a sampling.

You could have listed a string of other expenditures that are not so easily classified that way, but they still cost tens of billions of dollars. And whenever this proposed legislation is balleyhooed, these never get mentioned like roads, bridges, etc. do. It's no different from the Covid relief bill that wasn't about Covid.

I’m really not sure what you’re getting at. I’ve seen media coverage of all aspects of the bill and what it includes. It’s all things that most Americans would agree are good, if not crucial.
Which items in the bill do you support and oppose?

 

[Albion]

I’m really not sure what you’re getting at.

Then let's just let it go. It's been talked to death already here on this very thread.

 

[Sparagmos]

Then let's just let it go. It's been talked to death already here on this very thread.

That’s fine. I get the impression you’re not opposed to much of what’s in the bill, just that they titled it incorrectly and it’s coming from the Dems.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

Then let's just let it go. It's been talked to death already here on this very thread.

Almost like it’s the topic of this very thread.

 

[GreekOrthodox]

Uh, I gotta a project to recommend for infrastructure
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on Saturday after a leak was detected at an old phosphate plant pond in the Tampa Bay area that could potentially lead to a dangerous acidic flood.

Florida declares state of emergency as reservoir holding millions of gallons of radioactive wastewater 'could collapse' at any time

 

[wing2000]

I am 100% in favor of joes plan for infrastructure and 100% against the 94% of the bill that has zero to do with infrastructure.

According to your definition (and math), which of the following accounts for the 6%?

Infrastructure: $621 billion

• The plan would invest $115 billion to revamp highways and roads, including 10 major and 10,000 smaller bridges in need of reconstruction. It also includes $20 billion to improve road safety, including for cyclists and pedestrians.
• The plan calls for $85 billion to modernize existing transit systems and help agencies expand to meet rider demand. The investment would double federal funding for public transit.
• Biden is proposing $80 billion to fix Amtrak’s repair backlog.
• It would establish $174 billion in grant and incentive programs for state and local governments and the private sector to build a national network of 500,000 electric-vehicle chargers by 2030.
• The proposal seeks to replace 50,000 diesel transit vehicles and electrify at least 20 percent of the country’s yellow school bus fleet.
• The plan would invest $25 billion in airports, including programs to renovate terminals and expand car-free access to air travel.
• Biden is also pitching $17 billion for inland waterways, coastal ports, land ports of entry and ferries to invest in the nation’s freight system.

Infrastructure ‘at home’: $650 billion

• Biden’s proposal would invest $213 billion to build and retrofit more than 2 million homes. The plan would build and rehabilitate more than 500,000 homes for low- and middle-income home buyers and invest $40 billion to improve public housing.
• Biden’s proposal aims to deliver universal broadband, including to more than 35 percent of rural Americans who lack access to high-speed Internet.
• The plan would invest $111 billion for clean drinking water, $45 billion of which would be used to replace the country’s lead pipes and service lines. The effort would reduce lead exposure in 400,000 schools and child-care facilities and improve the safety of drinking water.
• The proposal calls for $100 billion to upgrade and build new public schools. It also would invest $12 billion in community college infrastructure and $25 billion to upgrade child-care facilities.
• Biden is proposing $18 billion to modernize Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics and $10 billion to revamp federal buildings.

Care economy: $400 billion

• The plan expands access to home- or community-based care for seniors and people with disabilities. It would extend a Medicaid program, Money Follows the Person, to move elderly residents out of nursing homes and back into their own homes or into the care of loved ones.
• Biden also calls for improving working conditions, including higher wages and more benefits, for caretakers, who are disproportionately women of color and who have largely stayed on the job during the coronavirus pandemic.

Research and development, manufacturing and training: $580 billion

• Biden’s proposal would invest $180 billion in research and development. That includes a major clean-energy push to reduce emissions, build climate resilience and boost climate-focused research.
• The plan would invest $50 billion in domestic semiconductor manufacturing.
• It would provide incentives for companies to locate local manufacturing jobs in the “industrial heartland.”
• The plan would double the number of registered apprenticeships to more than 1 million and invest in a more inclusive science and technology workforce.

Tax overhaul

• The White House plan calls for about $2 trillion in new spending over eight years. The proposed tax increases would cover that cost over 15 years and become permanent.
• The plan raises the corporate tax rate from 21 percent to 28 percent.
• It also increases the global minimum tax paid from about 13 percent to 21 percent.
• The proposal ends federal tax breaks for fossil fuel companies.
• It also ramps up tax enforcement against corporations and prevents U.S. corporations from claiming tax havens as their residence.

Responding to climate change

• Much of Biden’s spending package focuses on green infrastructure and job creation. For example, the White House says automakers could hire workers to make batteries and parts for electric vehicles, shoring up their own supply chains. Consumers would also get tax incentives to buy American-made electric vehicles.
• The White House says that 40 percent of the benefits of its climate and clean-infrastructure investments would go to disadvantaged communities.
• The Biden administration argues that retrofitting homes and public infrastructure will reduce the billions of dollars in damage caused by climate disasters. The plan calls for $50 billion to improve resilience to climate change, including by protecting electric grids, food systems, urban infrastructure and hospitals in communities most vulnerable to flooding and other severe weather events.
• The infrastructure overhaul would also cover protection from wildfires, sea-level rise, hurricanes and droughts and shore up dam safety.
• The plan would put $35 billion toward clean-energy technology, new methods for reducing emissions and other broad-based climate research.
• The plan would establish an Energy Efficiency and Clean Electricity Standard that would set specific targets to cut how much coal- and gas-fired electricity power companies use over time.

Worker rights

• Biden’s plan calls for passage of the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, or Pro Act, which is aimed at significantly strengthening workers’ rights to organize.
• The proposal also places a heavy emphasis on creating union-backed jobs.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/03/31/what-is-in-biden-infrastructure-plan/

 

[mindlight]

According to your definition (and math), which of the following accounts for the 6%?

You probably will not get an answer to that one, the facts are pretty much unanswerable, but thanks for the helpful and informative share

 

[Arcangl86]

According to your definition (and math), which of the following accounts for the 6%?

Infrastructure: $621 billion

• The plan would invest $115 billion to revamp highways and roads, including 10 major and 10,000 smaller bridges in need of reconstruction. It also includes $20 billion to improve road safety, including for cyclists and pedestrians.
• The plan calls for $85 billion to modernize existing transit systems and help agencies expand to meet rider demand. The investment would double federal funding for public transit.
• Biden is proposing $80 billion to fix Amtrak’s repair backlog.
• It would establish $174 billion in grant and incentive programs for state and local governments and the private sector to build a national network of 500,000 electric-vehicle chargers by 2030.
• The proposal seeks to replace 50,000 diesel transit vehicles and electrify at least 20 percent of the country’s yellow school bus fleet.
• The plan would invest $25 billion in airports, including programs to renovate terminals and expand car-free access to air travel.
• Biden is also pitching $17 billion for inland waterways, coastal ports, land ports of entry and ferries to invest in the nation’s freight system.

Infrastructure ‘at home’: $650 billion

• Biden’s proposal would invest $213 billion to build and retrofit more than 2 million homes. The plan would build and rehabilitate more than 500,000 homes for low- and middle-income home buyers and invest $40 billion to improve public housing.
• Biden’s proposal aims to deliver universal broadband, including to more than 35 percent of rural Americans who lack access to high-speed Internet.
• The plan would invest $111 billion for clean drinking water, $45 billion of which would be used to replace the country’s lead pipes and service lines. The effort would reduce lead exposure in 400,000 schools and child-care facilities and improve the safety of drinking water.
• The proposal calls for $100 billion to upgrade and build new public schools. It also would invest $12 billion in community college infrastructure and $25 billion to upgrade child-care facilities.
• Biden is proposing $18 billion to modernize Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics and $10 billion to revamp federal buildings.

Care economy: $400 billion

• The plan expands access to home- or community-based care for seniors and people with disabilities. It would extend a Medicaid program, Money Follows the Person, to move elderly residents out of nursing homes and back into their own homes or into the care of loved ones.
• Biden also calls for improving working conditions, including higher wages and more benefits, for caretakers, who are disproportionately women of color and who have largely stayed on the job during the coronavirus pandemic.

Research and development, manufacturing and training: $580 billion

• Biden’s proposal would invest $180 billion in research and development. That includes a major clean-energy push to reduce emissions, build climate resilience and boost climate-focused research.
• The plan would invest $50 billion in domestic semiconductor manufacturing.
• It would provide incentives for companies to locate local manufacturing jobs in the “industrial heartland.”
• The plan would double the number of registered apprenticeships to more than 1 million and invest in a more inclusive science and technology workforce.

Tax overhaul

• The White House plan calls for about $2 trillion in new spending over eight years. The proposed tax increases would cover that cost over 15 years and become permanent.
• The plan raises the corporate tax rate from 21 percent to 28 percent.
• It also increases the global minimum tax paid from about 13 percent to 21 percent.
• The proposal ends federal tax breaks for fossil fuel companies.
• It also ramps up tax enforcement against corporations and prevents U.S. corporations from claiming tax havens as their residence.

Responding to climate change

• Much of Biden’s spending package focuses on green infrastructure and job creation. For example, the White House says automakers could hire workers to make batteries and parts for electric vehicles, shoring up their own supply chains. Consumers would also get tax incentives to buy American-made electric vehicles.
• The White House says that 40 percent of the benefits of its climate and clean-infrastructure investments would go to disadvantaged communities.
• The Biden administration argues that retrofitting homes and public infrastructure will reduce the billions of dollars in damage caused by climate disasters. The plan calls for $50 billion to improve resilience to climate change, including by protecting electric grids, food systems, urban infrastructure and hospitals in communities most vulnerable to flooding and other severe weather events.
• The infrastructure overhaul would also cover protection from wildfires, sea-level rise, hurricanes and droughts and shore up dam safety.
• The plan would put $35 billion toward clean-energy technology, new methods for reducing emissions and other broad-based climate research.
• The plan would establish an Energy Efficiency and Clean Electricity Standard that would set specific targets to cut how much coal- and gas-fired electricity power companies use over time.

Worker rights

• Biden’s plan calls for passage of the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, or Pro Act, which is aimed at significantly strengthening workers’ rights to organize.
• The proposal also places a heavy emphasis on creating union-backed jobs.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/03/31/what-is-in-biden-infrastructure-plan/

In another thread he made it clear that he was only counting roads and bridges as infrastructure.

 

[DaisyDay]

$10 billion for a "Civilian Climate Corps."

This has everything to do with infrastructure and economic recovery.

The Civilian Climate Corps Is a Big-Government Plan That All Americans Can Embrace

 

[wing2000]

Sen Blunt is still under the (naive) impression that his party has any interest in signing on to any part Biden's infrastructure plan. [Noting that Blunt is not seeking re-election]

Sunday
Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., a member of Senate GOP leadership, said Sunday a smaller package of about $615 billion, or 30% of what Biden is proposing, could find bipartisan backing from Republicans if the White House found a way to pay for it without raising the corporate tax rate. He pointed to potential user fees on drivers and others.

Friday
Peppered in Kentucky with questions about money that could be potentially flowing for home-state road, bridge and housing projects after the president unveiled his plan, McConnell batted them back one by one.

Biden’s package “is not going to get support from our side,” McConnell said.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/poli...9b0fdc-95c4-11eb-8f0a-3384cf4fb399_story.html

 

[Albion]

This has everything to do with infrastructure and economic recovery.

Well, what the defenders of this inflationary and mislabeled legislation are saying over and over is that the provisions which ought not to be in the bill are useful or needed or something else like that...which of course isn't the point at all.