Infrastructure Crosses Lines of Party, Levels of Government, Verizon Vice President Says
Infrastructure policy kept coming up this week, with an eye toward President-elect Donald Trump’s plan for a $1 trillion infrastructure funding package that he has said he wants to advance before Congress early next year. “The whole idea around infrastructure…
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is something that not only crosses lines between parties but it also crosses lines between federal government, state governments and local governments,” said Verizon Smart Communities Vice President Mrinalini Ingram Monday, speaking at an event hosted by Bloomberg Government and referring to smart city and autonomous vehicle initiatives. She called for “synergies” and “seamless” coordination involved in such infrastructure: “Look at infrastructure as a whole.” Chamber of Commerce Transportation Infrastructure Executive Director Ed Mortimer said the Chamber backs a “long-term sustainable funding solution,” questioning the merits of repatriated tax funds -- one debated source of funding for infrastructure as part of a greater package -- as sufficient. AFL-CIO Policy Director Damon Silvers mentioned a need for broadband funding, part of Trump’s proposal: “There is a need for broadband both in our nation’s inner cities and in our nation’s rural communities,” he said, while also questioning the racial climate that he says is preventing a fulsome infrastructure discussion.