House Democrat Says Party Promotes Infrastructure, P3s
The Democrats’ platform includes supporting new infrastructure projects through the help of private capital, Rep. Tim Ryan, an Ohio Democrat challenging House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi for her leadership post this week, said on Meet The Press.
“If you look at the policies, I believe the Democratic Party still has the policies to help move us forward, the blend of public-private partnerships, the infrastructure, the investments in education and research. Those are things that we stand for and believe in and will continue to fight for,” Ryan said on the Sunday show Nov. 27.
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Ryan noted his experience on the House transportation funding subcommittee has served as an education about the challenges afflicting the country’s transportation network. Federal transportation officials appear annually before the subcommittee to defend the administration’s funding requests.
Ryan added he expects a strong showing from colleagues backing his takedown of Pelosi when they meet Nov. 30 for their leadership elections. Pelosi has indicated she has the support of about two-thirds of the Democratic caucus. That would enough for the requisite simple majority to secure the leadership role.
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Pelosi and her Senate counterpart, New York Democrat Charles Schumer, have stressed a willingness to collaborate with President-elect Donald Trump on an infrastructure funding proposal. Republican leaders have yet to endorse Trump’s $1 trillion infrastructure proposal.
Public-private partnerships, or P3s, are a financial tool policymakers have adopted to boost infrastructure dollars. They entail the assistance of private investors who typically expect a return on their investments. The Obama administration has embraced P3s.
