Should the Democrats cooperate with Trump on infrastructure projects?

[MrPurple]

I was disappointed that the Democrats didn't seem to stage more dramatic filibusters of the tax bill, or if they did, they didn't generate much coverage. They really needed to use enough apocalyptic language to generate more coverage, laying down the gauntlet that shorting the treasury (which is already in deficit) by trillions of dollars is going to squeeze out Medicare and Social Security later down the road.

I suspect that Trump's infrastructure bills will just be tax breaks for his crony developers to do glitzier projects while core infrastructure goes mostly unattended (replacing old lead pipes isn't the kind of sexy thing that Trump can put his name on). IMO, every infrastructure hearing needs to be a place where the Democrats drive home how the treasury has just been sacked and that the Republicans have wasted the money that could have been used for infrastructure. Every infrastructure debate should be treated as a negotiation to undo tax law changes that most benefit the wealthy in order to pay for them.

That likely won't succeed, but the messaging needs to repeatedly drive home the specifics of tax law changes that that send money back to billionaires and what that is depriving us of. If you look at the Gallup Daily Tracking poll, Trump's popularity has improved after the tax bill. The Democrats need to drive home what it actually does and lay the groundwork that will make it difficult for Ryan and the Rethugs to claim that "entitlement reform" is needed. The public need to be hit over the head with the message that it's the Republican tax cut for the wealthy that's the reason the Medicare and Social Security will be coming up short and that the remedy isn't program cuts, it's undoing the irresponsible tax code changes.

[marylandblue]

1. They should "negotiate" by proposing their own bill

Direct investment in infrastructure with taxes to pay for it. It will go nowhere, but gives them something to run in November.

[Joe941]

2. I agree to an extent, but...

you can't just be the party of obstruction either. Is there ground for bipartisanship? Maybe, but maybe not.

[spanone]

4. tell that to the republicans

[MrPurple]

5. Cooperation should be in the form of negotiation

You want to fix some bridges, while Trump pledged that he'd eliminate the carried interest deduction for hedge fund managers and then he didn't do it. We'll work with you if you fulfill the President's pledge with that to help pay for it.

We'd be happy to work with you to fund improvements to LaGuardia, but your tax bill now allows married couples to inherit $22 million tax free. Lower that limit back down to $11 million to help fund the project and we'd love to work with you, and be able to do it responsibly.

It's a perfect opportunity to highlight the specifics of how the Republicans paid out the super rich. And, if that bridge repair (or whatever) doesn't get the votes, the blame is on the Republicans because they're not willing to remove a benefit to billionaires to help pay for it.

[Joe941]

9. We can't compromise on principles - not an option.

[LonePirate]

3. No. He only supports privatized infrastructure projects which are bad for most Americans.

[RazzleCat]

6. Yes and No

My gut says that any bill proposed by this administration would be a horrid mess. If it is as I suspect a bill proposing toll roads/bridges. A bill proposing infrastructure that is say a new road that only benefits an energy company in extracting from our natural resources a huge no. Now on the other hand if by some administrative error they were to propose repair of our currents roads/bridges with local labor and using prevailing wage, I think I could get behind that.

[dalton99a]

7. There shall be no privatization. And fuck bipartisanship.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

8. Democrats couldn't filibuster the tax scam bill

and they spoke out harshly against- and none of them AFAIK even voted for it. As far as infrastructure projects, I suppose that it would only be fair to see an actual proposal before making a judgement call but, given that Republicans have no apparent interest in working with Democrats or having them at the table on anything, I'm inclined to say that whatever is proposed by Trump/GOP will likely not be good for the country.

[MrPurple]

14. true, no opportunity to filibuster

But, I have NPR and cable news on probably too much of the time, and obviously the Democrats were strongly against the tax scam. It just didn't seem that there were any individual quotes of outrage that broke through to get wide coverage. I was kind of hoping for Bernie or somebody to have a meltdown and swear in an interview and talk about it in such a colorful way that the quote became a meme that branded the Republicans more with what they've done. It probably wouldn't have mattered, but it's going to be a few years before the deficit impact really hits and by that time, the Trump rubes will happily accept explanations that blame it on the Democrats.

[Little Star]

10. Infrastructure? I think not because....

they are so cheap every thing will be done half-assed!

I vote wait until reasonable/responsible people are in charge to get the job done.

[shanny]

11. Cooperate? F no.

Point out that the pukes are just proposing another handout to corporations with corresponding raid on the treasury and our wallets, and then propose a REAL infrastructure bill that, you know, rebuilds and improves infrastructure.

[dembotoz]

12. The roads in my state suck.. Wisconsin...

We need to ensure that responsibility for this mess stays with walker and his vile gop and not let the blame get shifted to us

[OregonBlue]

13. Trump's intention is to sell off our infrastructure to the highest bidder (which of course in many

cases may be Russia or the Saudis or the Chinese). So no, we do not want all of the infrastructure of the US privatized. It will be paid for with our tax dollars but the foreign owners will charge for it into infinity. Once they have worked out how to make the most from it and how to get the biggest kick-backs for themselves, they will start on the Parks and Recreational facilities across the nation. They want everything privatized and they want Americans to be paying THEM in order to use everything. Even those things that are built and maintained with taxes.

THEY ARE SERIOUS CROOKS AND SHYSTERS.