Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown calls White House infrastructure spending bill 'Trump Toll Bill'

On his first conference of the year with Ohio media, Ohio senior U.S  Sen. Sherrod Brown outlined his Bridge Investment Act, which calls for significant investment in bridge repair projects.

Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown (right) speaks with Ohio's

leading independent reporter, John Michael Spinelli 

in Columbus in Oct, 2016

President Donald Trump has called for $1 trillion in infrastructure spending, but Trump and Republican spending may end up using tolls instead of traditional government-financing.

“We need to make robust investments in infrastructure, so people can get to work, kids can get to school, and we can move goods and services that support Ohio jobs,” said Brown in prepared remarks.“That’s why I introduced the Bridge Investment Act, which will put Americans to work repairing and updating Ohio bridges with American iron and steel.”

Trump Toll Bill

Brown is the ranking member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee who co-sponsored the bill with Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). The bill would help repair bridges of all sizes in urban and rural areas, and require all projects to use American-made steel and iron for bridge projects funded by the bill.

Sen. Brown, running for his third term this year, wondered where local governments might come up with local match funds. Ohio Gov. John Kasich has withheld billions in local government funds that once upon a time flowed back to local municipalities.

When asked his thoughts on how Washington Republicans will tackle financing infrastructure, now that the president has signed a massive tax cut bill last year that pumped up the nation's debt by estimates that range from $1-2 billion, Brown offered one label that takes into account the use public-private partnerships Republicans are fond of, "Trump Toll Bill." 

Brown’s bill, estimated to cost about $75 billion, of which Ohio might realize as much of a five -percent return on, would also do the following

• Ensure that a bipartisan infrastructure package could eliminate the national bridge repair backlog, if the new bill is added to such a package.

• Create an innovative evaluation process for proposed projects to ensure the fair and efficient allocation of federal funding. 

• Bundle medium and small projects into a single application to cut down on red tape and accelerate repairs.

• Allow entities of all sizes and scope to apply for funding, including: states, counties, cities, metropolitan planning organizations, special purpose districts, public authorities with transportation functions, federal land management agencies and Indian tribes.

The American Society of Civil Engineers, the International Union of Operating Engineers, National League of Cities, North America’s Building Trades Union, the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, the American Road & Transportation Builders Association and the Associated General Contractors of America have announced their support for the bill. (Source: Brown staff)