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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 13 February 2018

Trump says 'OK with me' if plan to rebuild roads founders

International Airport as ex- leader Nancy Pelosi of Cali- that the federal permitting
amples of assets that could fornia. process would be stream-
be sold. Sen. Lamar Alex- Convening a roomful of lined but said it would be
ander, R-Tenn., warned state and local leaders, up to state and local lead-
that the proposal included Trump listened as gover- ers to ensure that local per-
studying whether the Ten- nors and mayors pitched mits don’t hold up worthy
nessee Valley Authority, individual projects in their projects.
the nation’s largest public states and described the “Washington will no longer
utility, should sell its trans- challenges involved with be a roadblock to prog-
mission assets. He called it gaining federal permits. ress. Washington will now
“a looney idea” with “zero “It seems to me that the be your partner,” Trump
chance of becoming law.” pyramids in Egypt were said. During the meeting,
“After a full year of empty built faster than some of the former real estate de-
boasts, the president has the projects that we’re veloper reveled in his past
President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with state and finally unveiled a puny in- contemplating,” said Este- life as a builder, pointing
local officials about infrastructure in the State Dining Room of the frastructure scam that fully ban Bovo, chairman of the to his 1980s completion of
White House in Washington, Monday, Feb. 12, 2018. fails to meet the need in Miami-Dade County Com- a troubled renovation of
(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
America’s communities,” mission in Florida. Wollman Rink in New York
By KEN THOMAS cuts, and what was very said House Democratic Trump vowed repeatedly City’s Central Park. q
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- important to me was regu-
dent Donald Trump sent lation."
Congress a sweeping plan Speaking of infrastructure,
Monday to rebuild the na- Trump added: "This is of
tion's depleted roads and great importance, but it's
bridges — then immediate- not nearly in that catego-
ly raised doubts about how ry. Because the states will
committed he was to de- have to do it themselves if
livering on that campaign we don't do it. But I would
promise. like to help the states out."
"If you want it badly, you're The administration's plan is
going to get it," Trump told centered on using $200 bil-
state and local officials dur- lion in federal money to le-
ing a meeting at the White verage more than $1 trillion
House. "And if you don't in local and state tax dollars
want it, that's OK with me to fix America's infrastruc-
too." ture, such as roads, high-
Trump suggested that his ways, ports and airports.
proposal — aimed at spur- The administration released
ring $1.5 trillion in spending a 55-page "legislative out-
over a decade — was not line" for lawmakers who will
as important to him as oth- write the legislation.
er recent administration ef- With the plan heavily de-
forts to cut taxes and boost pendent on state and local
military spending. dollars, Democrats warned
"If for any reason, they it would raise tolls on com-
don't want to support to muters, sell off government-
it, hey, that's going to be owned infrastructure to
up to them," Trump said of Wall Street and eliminate
the Republican-controlled critical environmental pro-
Congress. "What was very tections.
important to me was the The proposal lists Ronald
military, what was very im- Reagan Washington Na-
portant to me was the tax tional Airport and Dulles