GOP Counterproposal Aims to Restore the Infrastructure Status Quo

Of the $568 billion in spending proposed by the "Republican Roadmap," $299 billion would go to infrastructure for cars.

2 minute read

April 25, 2021, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Freeway Interchange Construction

Tim Roberts Photography / Shutterstock

The GOP has produced a response to the American Jobs Plan proposed by the Biden administration at the end of March. Republicans are proposing a $568 billion plan "that's focused on more traditional infrastructure like roads and bridges and doesn't have the corporate tax hikes that Democrats are seeking," according to an article by Steven T. Dennis and Laura Litvan.

The GOP infrastructure plan would double the amount spent on roads and bridges in the American Jobs Plan—to $299 billion. The messaging for the counterproposal, shared here in a Tweet by Politico reporter Sam Mintz, repeats the Republican resistance to the broader definition of infrastructure implied by the American Jobs Plan.

A Twitter thread by Urban Institute researcher Yonah Freemark details more about the consequences of the GOP infrastructure plan for non-automobile modes of transportation. Spoiler alert: the Biden plan is far friendlier to transit.

Republicans intend to pay for their plan with user fees for electric vehicles and by repurposing "unused federal spending" from the American Rescue Plan, according to a separate article by Alexander Bolton.

The Associated Press has also reported on the Republican infrastructure counter proposal.

Thursday, April 22, 2021 in Bloomberg

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

A pencil rendering of Foundry Park, which shows skyscrapers and public green spaces.

Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment

The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.

October 23, 2026 - Chicago Sun Times

The Headwaters of Bubbly Creek and the Racine Avenue Pump Station. The later is a large, gray square building.

City officials are dumping billions of gallons of sewage into the Chicago River

This year, the Racine Avenue sewage pumping station has poured over 10 billion gallons of sewage into the Chicago River.

45 minutes ago - Chicago Sun Times

People walking in downtown St. Louis, walking past shops.

Move over, LA: St. Louis gears up for Olympics, invests millions in downtown redevelopment

The Missouri city will host the 2028 Olympic soccer group stage and knockout matches.

1 hour ago - Smart Cities Dive

A swamp in South Carolina with tall pale trees and Spanish moss in the water.

Satanic place names

From streams and lakes to valleys and canyons, I mapped more than 1,000 places named after the Devil.

October 31 - The Daily Yonder