Schumer, unions pitch infrastructure plan, reversal of some Trump tax cuts
Surrounded by union workers, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer called President Donald Trump's infrastructure plan a sham, and urged that recent federal tax cuts for corporations and the richest Americans be rolled back to help pay for long-overdue repairs.
Standing near the 115-year-old Livington Avenue bridge across the Hudson River, Schumer said the Trump plan, which limits federal financial support while seeking more private and state investment, falls far short of what is needed to fix aging roads, bridges, water and sewage systems.
"The federal government has said they are not paying another nickel," said Schumer. He warned the plan, if adopted, would result in more private control over projects. "Highway tolls would be going up all over" he said, as states raise the cash needed to repay investors with a profit.
He said the price tag to replace the Livingston Avenue bridge, which connects passenger rail service to the west and north of the Rensselaer Amtrak station, could be $1 billion.
Schumer said money for nationwide infrastructure spending can be found by increasing the corporate tax rate, which under last year's tax cut was lowered from 35 percent to 21 percent, to 25 percent
More: https://www.timesunion.com/business/article/Schumer-unions-pitch-infrastructure-plan-12764748.php
Senator Charles Schumer surrounded by representatives from various construction/trade unions and other elected officials holds a press conference at the Corning Preserve on Monday, March 19, 2018, in Albany, N.Y. Senator Schumer held the event to announce his plan to push for a major infrastructure proposal. In the background is the Livingston Avenue Rail Bridge, which is in need to repair Senator Schumer said. (Paul Buckowski/Times Union)