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

portrait of professional woman

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 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 Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up on Canadian flag with Canada Parliament building blurred in background.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?

As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

April 28, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Hot air balloons rise over Downtown Boise with the State Capitol building visible amidst the high rises.

The Five Most-Changed American Cities

A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.

April 23, 2025 - GoodMigrations

People biking along beach path with moored ship in San Diego, California.

San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan

The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.

7 hours ago - SD News

Sleeping in Public

Housing, Supportive Service Providers Brace for Federal Cuts

Organizations that provide housing assistance are tightening their purse strings and making plans for maintaining operations if federal funding dries up.

May 2 - KSL

Conductor walks down platform next to Amtrak train at station in San Jose, California.

Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement

An outdated rail network that privileges freight won’t be fixed by privatizing Amtrak.

May 2 - Streetsblog USA

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO