The idea that a federal investment of just $200 billion in infrastructure will somehow trigger $1 trillion in additional spending by states and private companies is obviously a fantasy, but where is that $200 billion suppose to come from?
According to the Washington Post, Trump has called for raising the gas tax at least twice in recent weeks to pay for his fake infrastructure plan but congressional Republicans immediately rejected it both times.
During a White House meeting with House Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) several weeks ago, Trump mused about a gas tax increase to 50 cents per gallon, almost triple the current level, according to a person briefed on the exchange who requested anonymity to discuss White House deliberations. [...]
Trump, Cabinet members and GOP leaders also discussed the gas tax increase during joint meetings this weekend in Camp David. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.), who attended the meetings, would not reveal who raised the subject of raising the gas tax, but he said there was no ambiguity about how Congress planned to proceed.
“I’m sure it came up in some context because that’s what a lot of people have proposed at different times,” Cornyn said. “But I have complete confidence that we will not be raising the gas tax.”
Now, 50 cents per gallon is obviously a ridiculous number and Trump clearly has no idea what he's saying, but there's virtually no chance congressional Republicans will raise the gas tax under any circumstances even if it were only 5 cents.
Recent reports suggest Trump's infrastructure plan may not even be released this month if ever, but if the White House does get around to it I think we can assume it will be dead on arrival.
The only way I can see congressional Republicans passing a so-called infrastructure bill is if it comes in the form of even more tax cuts for corporations.