Our Payoff
President Biden signed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill in a large outdoor White House ceremony yesterday afternoon.
Reports are that Iowa will receive about $5 billion of that in new roads and bridges, broadband, and water infrastructure improvements.
Officials say the bulk of that, $3.4 billion, will go for highway repair in Iowa. Another $432 million is earmarked for bridge replacement and repair…keep in mind, some say our bridge-related infrastructure is among the worst in the country.
Even more than the amount to be spent on bridges is the money going to water infrastructure improvements–$638 million worth. Airports have not been forgotten…$120 million for Iowa airport infrastructure.
Another $305 million is designated for public transportation…with $100 million for expanded broadband internet coverage. A similar amount was spent by Iowa government officials recently, as well.
That’s all we know about Iowa-based projects…and those parceling out the information, folks who work for a Democrat officeholder, were careful to only note the popular expenditures…roads, bridges, internet, waterways.
The overall bill includes $65 billion for rebuilding the electric grid with renewable energy and thousands of miles of new power lines…there goes what’s left of our view, already spoiled by far too many wind turbines. And don’t forget $15 billion for electric vehicle charging stations and electric buses.
Republicans supported much of this when a Republican was president, of course…but that was also pre-COVID. Let’s just hope those in charge of parceling out the relatively small $5 billion in Iowa do so effectively and efficiently.
