Sen. Deb Fischer lays out sweeping plan to revamp nation's road funding

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

By Joseph Morton

WASHINGTON — Sen. Deb Fischer offered a sweeping proposal Tuesday intended to pave the way for new highways, tunnels and bridges throughout the country.

“Our nation’s infrastructure is in need of repair and expansion,” Fischer said. “As millions sit in endless traffic jams and travel over decaying bridges, our government continues to waste time and money.”

But the Nebraska Republican faces plenty of potential roadblocks in moving her plan forward. Her legislation would establish a national infrastructure bank that would lend money to states for road, bridge and tunnel projects.

States also would be able to give up some of their federal highway funding in exchange for the right to determine whether their own projects comply with federal regulations, including those aimed at protecting the environment.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://www.omaha.com/news/nebraska/sen-deb-fischer-lays-out-sweeping-plan-to-revamp-nation/article_8a12e984-9612-5373-8730-113ad08993d0.html

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Senator Fischer???

[Novara]

1. She's a republican????

[TexasBushwhacker]

4. My thoughts exactly

This is really good idea, because the federal government can borrow money at a much lower rate than states can. If a business was offer a loan at a 1% (or less) interest rate, would they take it? You bet! Well, GOP is always saying the governent should be run lije a business. Well here's their chance.

[vkkv]

10. There is NOT A SINGLE word about a 1% interest rate in the article.

We are being fooled first, then eventually ripped-off.

Let's wait and see what real economists have to say about this.

Friends don't let friends vote Republican - or drive drunk.

[TexasBushwhacker]

13. Fair enough

However, I think the repatriation holiday idea is AWFUL.

It makes more sense for the feds to borrow while the interest rates are at record lows, and then they will be able to loan it to the states at a lower interest rate.

If they want to bring some of that stashed trillion bucks back into the country so they can get some tax revenue they should raise the overall corporate tax rate and close loopholes. It's way too low. Set a target date of January 2018. Then tell Apple and the other stashers they have until the end of 2017 to bring the money back in at the lower 2017 rate.

It seems that something needs to be done to make the states suck it up and repair their deadly roads, bridges and dams. We have a dam on the West side of Houston that is in horrible repair. When it breaks, not if, it will make the levee failures in New Orleans look liike a kiddie pool. That means BILLIONS in bailout money from FEMA. States shouldn't have the right to wait for a disaster because they don't want to raise taxes.

[Drahthaardogs]

18. She's awful. Steals land from old ladies nice enough to let her graze for free

then sues for their property.

She is scum

[rurallib]

2. most likely won't go anyplace

contractors might have to hire workers at decent wages. Can't have that!

[okaawhatever]

15. Actually I question that. She is advocating taking federal highway money (which comes with the

requirements for higher wages, etc) and have that money go to the states. I smell a rat in there somewhere. It smells like states' rights b.s. to me. I don't trust federal money going to states anymore.

[rurallib]

16. I think that is what I was trying to say - yep, there must be a rat someplace.

[a kennedy]

3. Oh so Now it's fashionable to call for road and bridge repair funding....

POTUS has only been calling for this for YEARS!!!!!

[brer cat]

5. yes, but he was calling for it

while black. That is the difference.

[matt819]

6. It's needed, of course

But coming from a Republican you really have to wonder what's behind this proposal. Gotta be a back story.

[mnhtnbb]

8. The back story is that Nebraska is home to a MAJOR concrete company

http://www.lymanrichey.com/readymixed/

Undoubtedly they are looking for business.

[vkkv]

11. Bingo! n/t

[jwirr]

7. BUT you notice that it is a loan to the states. That means our state will have to tax us to pay back

a loan from our own tax money. The infrastructure is so big right now that it would require a huge input of capital and many states could not afford to borrow and then tax the people.

I do like the idea of a National Infrastructure Bank. In MN we have a MN Finance Housing Agency that takes all the money that is allotted for housing from both state and federal sources and uses it for housing projects. And they do borrow it or give grants but the state does not pay the federal funds back. The people who benefit from a low income loan pay their own loan back at reasonable interest and payments. Many projects are grants.


Maybe we could take a portion of the military funds to fix the infrastructure. We could call it a national highway system (like Ike's roads) and national security for a new energy grid and just a health issue for sewers. Let the Engineers run the project and hire private citizens to do the work. Two birds with one dollar.

[vkkv]

9. It's a TAX HOLIDAY FOR CORPORATIONS! This is a HORRIBLE IDEA!! HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE!

Read the attached article before you pat her on the back.

A "national infrastructure bank", according to the attached link does NOT define who board members are, only they would be appointed by Congress...( ugghh) She does not mention any interest amount ( ugghh) . States could get a waiver from Fed environmental regulations! ( ugghh)

Better idea?? The Government should DIVERT Pentagon money BACK TO THE PUBLIC or FINE CORPORATIONS for all of the exported / off-shored U.S. GDP money to build our own infrastructure with THAT MONEY THAT should HAVE BEEN HERE in the FIRST PLACE.


"""Kevin DeGood, director of infrastructure policy at the Center for American Progress, said the tax holiday funding mechanism is not a good idea. He also took issue with putting states on the honor system when it comes to federal regulations."""

We COULD do WAY BETTER !

Friends don't let friends vote Republican - or drive drunk!

http://www.omaha.com/news/nebraska/sen-deb-fischer-lays-out-sweeping-plan-to-revamp-nation/article_8a12e984-9612-5373-8730-113ad08993d0.html

[swilton]

12. Hello?

What about the rail system?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141092057#post9

[Ford_Prefect]

14. More snake oil from the party that perfected money laundering via taxes.

This has financial distress written all over it.

[vkkv]

17. Agreed

'Sounds awful'

- Marvin

[jmowreader]

19. I smell enough rats to start my own sewer

That fourth paragraph is more than concerning: what is to stop...oh, say the state of Nebraska...from deciding to "give up some of its highway funding" in exchange for finding Keystone XL meets federal regulations?

Also, the way she plans to initially fund it relies on the same kinds of assumptions behind the Kemp-Roth Tax Cut.