Infrastructure: The Curious Case of Bipartisan Support and Lack of Action

Infrastructure!  Many seem to agree that the US is in dire need of an infrastructure upgrade. The Chamber of Commerce points out that "our interstate system is nearly 70 years old, and more than 61,000 bridges are labeled as deficient."  Even budget conscious Republicans see the need with Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb) introducing legislation that would create a national Infrastructure bank. Heck, even President Obama can get behind this goal.  Per the think-tank American Progress, "On the campaign trail, the president repeatedly called for directing to infrastructure the federal spending saved by ending the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, asking for those funds to support nation building right here at home.”  Yet here we are again, racing against the clock to pass another temporary measure that would allocate spending for the next three months on already approved infrastructure projects.  This would be the 35th time since 2009 where Congress has passed such a temporary measure.

In this cost conscious environment, it appears that lawmakers feel little pressure from their constituents to get a long-term deal done which illustrates an interesting paradox.  In 2014, infrastructure did not even crack the Top 20 for issues most important to Americans.  At the same time, citizens have direct exposure to many of the consequences of America's failure to maintain and improve its infrastructure.  Drivers tweet about constant stop and go traffic during their morning commutes in Los Angeles and Atlanta.  Passengers bemoan terrible conditions and long waiting lines at airports across the United States.  Citizens attribute these inconveniences to a myriad of causes (damn you United!), however as of yet have failed to make the connection with the lack of a national, long-term infrastructure plan.  Unfortunately, aging airline terminals and potholes aren't the only consequences from this consistent neglect of our infrastructure.  The WSJ reports that urban highway congestion costs the economy more than $100 billion annually.   The Journal also notes that billions are added to the costs of products Americans consume daily due to port congestion, lock delays and a lack of facilities. 

A lack of infrastructure spending and planning is an unseen weight around the US economy's shoulder and is choking growth.  The next time you are stuck in that traffic delay and tempted to deal with it via a witty Twitter post, consider instead thinking about the real root cause.