There is no denying the political divide that currently exists in America. It is deep and it is mostly wide. Of course, this divide did not happen overnight. It has developed over several years. But perhaps, one of the few things that has been bipartisan is agreement on both sides of the aisle for the desperate need for infrastructure funding.
This common ground appears to be growing among lawmakers evidenced by the progress on a fourth major stimulus package to deal with the effects on the nation from the Coronavirus.
Forbes.com’s Jack Brewster is reporting that infrastructure spending could be the catalyst to unite Democrats and Republicans on the stimulus legislation.
Brewster writes:
Congress has been divided on how to proceed on further stimulus relief after the Democratic-led House passed a $3 trillion stimulus bill Friday that stands no chance of passing in the GOP-controlled Senate: Democrats see the next relief bill as a way to tide Americans over as the economy begins to reopen, while Republicans would prefer to use further stimulus to incentivize work.
Republicans have also expressed hesitation at jumping headfirst on more coronavirus relief; “I don’t see the need right now,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) told CNN reporter Manu Raju Tuesday.
But this week, several GOP lawmakers — such as Sens. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) — broke ranks, stressing the need for more infrastructure spending in a bill that they say could get done in the next month or so; "I think June doesn't need to come and go without a phase four," said Wicker, referring to a fourth stimulus bill.
"I want to do infrastructure," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told CNN Wednesday night, adding he told President Trump that “this is the time” to get infrastructure done.
Personally, I hate that it might have taken a deadly virus that has caused endless amounts of suffering among people and the economy in order for infrastructure spending to move forward. But I also believe that we should grab hold of anything good that comes as a result especially if it helps us move forward.
This could be good.
