Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Michigan Democrat who was elected on a campaign of fixing infrastructure, urged a Senate panel Wednesday to increase federal spending on the nation’s transportation infrastructure, arguing that economic growth and environmental sustainability can both be served by improvements to roads and bridges.
According to The Detroit News, both Republican and Democratic members of the Senate panel expressed commitment to a spending package, according to the report. Senators of both parties also stressed the importance of looking for sustainable funding solutions that would support electric vehicles, nodding at a potential turn away from gas taxes as the main source of revenue.
Sen. Tom Carper, D-Delaware, chair of the committee, noted the push from the private sector, including companies such as Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co., to pivot to more electric vehicles. Senators agreed that building out charging infrastructure is crucial to aiding in that transition.
Where the funding will come from for Biden’s infrastructure push is unknown, according to the article. He promised not to raise taxes on those earning under $400,000, and Transportation Secretary Pete Butttigieg has indicated a gas tax hike is unlikely. Biden has also argued that his infrastructure plan and climate goals will create jobs in clean energy and other related sectors, though the initiatives are likely to hurt jobs in traditional energy industries.
