The plan to do infrastructure spending, tax reform, and ‘defense’ refurbishing and buildup has come to a full stop. But, there is still a strong natural interest in these issues. The fly in the ointment is Trump. He demands too much, doesn’t want to negotiate, and is a pain in the ass.
Still, if both Democrats and Republicans want to do it, there is always a way to proceed.
Currently there are a variety of opinions about the correct amount of money to spend on infrastructure or ‘defense’ spending (they are equal amounts). The low is $50 B / year for 10 years, in order to get something done, but without busting the budget or giving the administration too much money to bloat the military on silly things we don’t need. The high is $75 B / year for 10 years. There may be a believe the sticking problem is the dollar value. NO, that isn’t it. The problem is that few people trust Trump and there are legitimate differences of opinion about the level of deficit we should accept to get the benefits of the spending.
My sense is that $60 B / year for 10 years is doable, but Democrats and Senate Republicans prefer $50 B / year. So, rather than risk losing too many votes from those folks, and to avoid having this deal play too big of a role in upcoming politics, I suggest $50 B / year, but with some potential to extend it into the future. There has been talk of a capital fund (investment bank if you prefer) and this may be a way to test the waters on that kind of thing and to ease into it if we like (in 10 years).
However, the deal has to remain short of what Trump wants: the Democrats infrastructure plan (an amendment I suppose), the Ryan tax plan, and the final word is Trump’s. If he should sign it (rubber-stamp style), as the Republicans have claimed they want their Republican presidents to do, then it can go smoothly; if he decides to veto it, then Congress can override or let it go. In the latter case it becomes a much bigger political issue and most members of Congress would not prefer that. That means there is risk from both parties and Trump holds the pen.
Take the risk if you like, but know what you’re handing Trump and consider how he might use that.