Congressional leaders from both parties, along with President Trump, have reportedly agreed on a $2 trillion infrastructure plan -- but aren't sure how to pay for it.
All sides sounded positive about the massive, wide-ranging proposal to rebuild our nation's roads and bridges.
Emerging from a White House meeting that lasted some 90 minutes, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said they were "very excited about the conversation that we had." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called it "very constructive," adding that it is clear that Democratic leaders and the president "want to get something done on infrastructure in a big and bold way."
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders also struck a positive tone in her statement after the meeting, calling it "excellent and productive."
"The United States has not come even close to properly investing in infrastructure for many years ... We have to invest in this country's future and bring our infrastructure to a level better than it has ever been before," the statement said.
The President has three weeks to figure out how to pay for the plan, at which point the group will meet again to discuss his ideas.
But while the White House may come up with a spending package all sides can agree upon, this most recent meeting illustrates the backwards way the federal government makes these decisions.
When a fiscally responsible family considers a kitchen remodel, they start with the most important question: "Can we afford to pay for this, and, if so, how?" Only when they know where the money will come from do they tell their neighbors and start looking for contractors.
But the feds don't work that way. When they want to do something, they begin by promising it to the American people. They tell everyone how great things will be when they accomplish their goals, and how everyone's lives will be better as a result.
Then, and only then, do they try to figure out where the money will come from. The question, "Can we afford this?" never crosses their collective mind. The question is always, "How can we funnel taxpayer dollars to this project without any short-term consequences?"
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, for example, told Americans in 2010 that we had to pass Obamacare before we could find out what's in it -- and figure out how to pay for it. What we found out is that the failed program has cost the tax payer trillions of dollars in waste.
This buy-now-worry-later attitude is one of the reasons our country is $22 trillion in debt. And while our nation's infrastructure may need improving, the federal government's track record doesn't offer much reason to hope that the project will be efficient, well-managed, or within budget.
That's why we need to call an Article V Convention of States. A Convention of States can propose constitutional amendments that restore fiscal sanity to Washington, D.C. Our nation doesn't have an unlimited supply of cash, which is why we need to force Congress to balance the budget and limit spending.
Only with these mandates in place can we begin to pull ourselves out of debt, impose fiscally responsible policies, and save the financial futures of our children and grandchildren.
Sign the Convention of States Petition below to show your support!
