Capitol Agenda for the Week of May 7: Little Bills
The art of the deal under this administration is taking us from the promise of having a huge infrastructure package to asking us to settle for smaller, tinier measures. Essentially, you get what you can.
This piecemeal approach to advancing infrastructure policy from our builder in chief, was reiterated last month by Kevin Hassett, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers.
Responding to reporters during an event hosted by the Christian Science Monitor on April 26, Hassett noted, “I know that legislation; one big bill is something that everybody hoped for. And it might still happen. But our infrastructure plans are so detailed and nuanced that I think one could expect infrastructure components every time is possible to stick them in a bill until that big bill comes.”
The status of the “big bill” on infrastructure will be revisited when President Donald Trump’s Cabinet and top officials in his administration make the rounds during Infrastructure Week.
Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao is the scheduled headliner for the weeklong series of workshops and seminars kicking off in Washington on May 14. Officials on the West Coast are planning a kickoff event, as well.
In February, the White House proposed a $200 billion infrastructure plan with the aim of achieving $1.5 trillion in investments over 10 years. Officials have not indicated the source of funding for the proposal’s federal component. Nonfederal funds would drive most of the plan’s investments. Senate Democrats have countered by proposing to undo provisions in the recent GOP-led tax overhaul with the goal of backing a $1 trillion infrastructure package.
THE WEEK AHEAD: (all times EDT)
May 14-18: Infrastructure Week
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
ELDs: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has assigned severity weights to each of about a dozen electronic logging device-related violations that are being recorded on a driver’s or motor carrier’s safety profile score.
PAY RAISES: The need for truck drivers has spurred a number of carriers recently to raise compensation and entice qualified drivers to stick around. Trucking companies find themselves competing for talent as the unemployment rate hovers around 4%, the economy expands and the freight market moves at a boiling-hot pace.
ECONIC: Daimler Trucks North America has introduced a low cab-forward refuse model for its Freightliner brand that the company said will complete its vocational lineup.
WHAT WE’RE READING:
Cut your own lumber.
FAVORITE QUOTE:
It’s my belief that the females are always cooler, calmer, and stronger under pressure than we are. We don’t have to give birth.
Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) at the House Rules Committee on April 24
FAVORITE VIDEO:
Learning process?
FAVORITE TWEET:
Metro #$@*&!
Today’s Metro announcement is beyond distressing — it’s really a stunning reversal of commitments made to commuters and to leaders of the region. How do we go from “Back to Good” to “Back to Shutdown”? https://t.co/58hIQ53tAt — Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) May 7, 2018
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