Sen. Deb Fischer supported an infrastructure proposal to push more financial responsibility to the states and local municipalities which would drive up Nebraska’s farmers and families already burdensome property taxes.
Sen. Deb Fischer’s Record On Infrastructure
On Party Leaders’ Infrastructure Plan, States And Localities Would Have To Be Willing To Raise New Revenue For Projects - Including Increasing Property Taxes. “President Trump is poised to unveil a long-awaited plan Monday that aims to stimulate $1.5 trillion in new spending on the country’s ailing infrastructure over the coming decade, but many lawmakers in both parties say the president isn’t providing a viable way to pay for his initiative. […] Of the proposed $200 billion in federal spending over the coming decade, half of it would be used to create an incentives program to reward states and localities that invest more in infrastructure projects. The money would be doled out on a competitive basis, with awards that amount to up to 20 percent of a project’s cost, aides said. To qualify, states and localities would have to be willing to raise new revenue for their projects. White House aides offered several examples, including increases in property taxes or sales taxes or an increase in tolls or other user fees.” [Washington Post, 2/11/18]
Fischer Said Party Leaders’ Plan Included Ideas She Long Supported, And Said “I Look Forward To Working With The Administration To Implement These Ideas.” “Sen. Deb Fischer said the plan released Monday includes ideas she has long emphasized, such as empowering states, reducing regulatory barriers and streamlining the permit process. ‘I look forward to working with the administration to implement these ideas that will connect families and communities, keep travelers safe and grow our economy,’ Fischer said.” [Omaha World-Herald, 2/13/18]
Party Leaders’ Plan Proposed To Allocate Just A Fraction Of $200 Billion Over Ten Years, With Most Of Funding Burden Shifted Onto States And Local Governments - A Radical Departure From How Federal Transportation And Infrastructure Programs Doled Out Funding In Past. “It’s a year later than first promised, but President Trump finally announced his long-awaited infrastructure plan at the White House today, flanked by governors, mayors, and other state and local leaders. Calling the condition of the country’s roads, bridges, ports, tunnels and water systems ’horrendous,’ Trump says his plan ‘will spur the biggest and boldest infrastructure investment in American history. The framework will generate an unprecedented $1.5- to $1.7-trillion investment in American infrastructure.’ But the word ‘generate’ is not the same as “spend,” as the Trump administration’s plan proposes to allocate just a fraction of that ambitious goal, $200 billion over 10 years, with most of the rest of the funding burden shifted onto states and local governments. It’s a radical departure from how federal transportation and infrastructure programs have doled out funding in the past.” [NPR, 2/12/18]