Democrats Propose $1 Trillion Infrastructure Plan As Deficit Is Projected To Rise

Senate Democrats are planning to put forward a $1 trillion infrastructure spending plan in a preemptive attempt at a bipartisan partnership on President Donald Trump's campaign promise to rebuild American roads, airports, transportation systems, highways, railways and tunnels.

The announcement seems to be coming at an inopportune time, however. Tuesday morning, the Congressional Budget Office released a report projecting increasing federal deficits for years to come.

President Obama long desired to pass a large infrastructure bill, and Hillary Clinton made similar plans a part of her failed 2016 presidential campaign. But with Congress held by majorities of the opposing party, a Democratic administration had little hope of moving forward with the plan.

Senate Democrats are now betting that things might be different under President Trump.

“From our largest cities to our smallest towns, communities across the country are struggling to meet the challenges of aging infrastructure,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer from New York, the Democratic Minority Leader, said in a statement. “Our urban and rural communities have their own unique set of infrastructure priorities, and this proposal would provide funding to address those needed upgrades that go beyond the traditional road and bridge repair.”

He continued: "We’re asking President Trump to work with us to make it a reality.”

And yet, the frequent attacks against the Obama administrations spending plans focused on the federal debt and deficit. And while the federal debt rose under Obama, the federal deficit, which is the difference between annual government revenues and spending, has been decreasing since 2009.

With future years' deficits projected to grow, will Republicans return to their calls for financial restraint or embrace the president's proposals for increased spending?

It's unclear yet. But if Trump works out a deal with congressional Democrats, he won't need many Republicans to vote his way to get a plan passed. A president siding with the opposition party against his own would be a surprising turn of events — but of course, Trump's entire rise to power surprised many observers.

Photo credit: US Air Force Public Affairs