As our nation’s infrastructure ages, the evidence of the decline is obvious, and more importantly, the effect is felt on a daily basis. That’s why it is easy for governors operating in a bipartisan way to stand together on matters of infrastructure investment. As the elected leaders of two small, rural states, we are pleased and thankful President Trump has started a national conversation on infrastructure with his proposal. We believe infrastructure is a critical factor to the economic success of our states, and if implemented properly, it will not only create jobs, but bring value to our citizens and build communities unlike this country has seen in decades. As such, there are at least three points worth mentioning:
1. The investment in our infrastructure is long overdue and will translate to growing the economy.
2. Investing in rural communities with local decision making is good for the nation; however, any match greater than the current 80/20 split will be difficult for most rural communities to provide.
3. A common sense approach to implementing governmental processes saves time and allows for more money to be invested in infrastructure.
Our states are connected at nearly 20 locations, five of them being major routes of commerce and connectivity. Southern rural states such as Louisiana and Mississippi are connected to larger regions of the national economy by the Interstate 10 and Interstate 20 corridors crossing the Mississippi River that separates our boundaries. The interstates and the river are essential for multimodal commerce beyond the limits of our states. In fact, we consider I-10 to be the front porch to the Gulf of Mexico and ultimately the world as it leads to two of the world’s largest ports. Our states’ and the nation’s economy stands to benefit from improved preservation of highways and a strategic focus on expanding capacity of our interstate system. The President’s commitment to investing $1.5 trillion is refreshing and welcome news to the congested corridors in Mississippi and Louisiana.
The rural network we share is essential for commerce because it connects the farm to market economies on the gulf south with other macro economies through the vast port systems on our respective shores. This connectivity is solidified through roads, rails, runways and rivers, all of which are critical to our individual and collective success. The President’s infrastructure proposal validates the struggles governors, mayors and local business and industrial leaders are facing in rural communities in our states. This plan demonstrates a commitment to improving rural infrastructure through a block grant process that prioritizes community needs while engaging local leaders. A large percentage of rural state highways in this region serves as the backbone of an agriculture network that fuels and feeds the world. From timber to mining natural resources, including oil and natural gas production and recreational activities, the citizens of this nation depend on this region to maintain their lifestyle.
With such a large rural system, a majority of our state’s preservation budget is allocated to rural roads and bridges. Over the past five years in Louisiana, 54 percent of the capital preservation budget has been used for rural roads, with 46 percent allocated for urban roads. In Mississippi, typically 55 percent of the DOT’s capital preservation budget is expended on rural roads and bridges.
Since 2012, over 25 states have addressed their funding issues by modernizing their gas tax structure or rates, and for various reasons, our states have not followed that path; thus, we are dependent on federal support. We work hard to maximize the spending potential of the dollars our citizens entrust to their state governments. There are no shortages of examples where an accelerated and streamlined environmental permitting process would result in moving project from concept to construction in a more efficient and expedited fashion. Therefore, we see value in accelerating the environmental process such that we spend less of our dollars on process and more on actually building and repairing infrastructure our citizens can use in their daily lives. Mississippi and Louisiana take pride in our natural riches and will always protect our environment, but we agree a common sense approach to decision making is better for the public and the bottom line.
The President’s infrastructure plan is not perfect, nor will it solve all of the nation’s infrastructure needs, but if acted on by Congress, it promises to restore confidence in our nation’s infrastructure, shores up our global competitiveness, and create jobs, while strengthening the economy for both rural and urban communities.
Phil Bryant is the Governor of Mississippi. John Bel Edwards is the Governor of Louisiana. This column originally appeared in the Morning Advocate (Baton Rouge).
Friday, April 6, 2018
Governor Phil Bryant & Governor John Bel Edwards: Infrastructure help needed.
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25 comments:
I seem to recall about nine years ago, there were billions allocated for "shovel-ready" projects.
Let's just hope our leaders remember that we first need to fix and maintain our existing infrastructure, before they build more boondoggle roads/highways that are not needed and/or that we can't afford to also maintain in the future.
"Since 2012, over 25 states have addressed their funding issues by modernizing their gas tax structure or rates, and for various reasons, our states have not followed that path; thus, we are dependent on federal support."
Here are the "reasons" Mississippi and Louisiana haven't modernized their gas tax structure: 1) Republicans; 2) Republicans; and 3) Republicans.
No mention of I-55 connecting regions of the country?
We need a toll road to the coast. 49 is a damn mess.
I thought the same thing, 1:13pm. No mention of I-55.
"Since 2012, over 25 states have addressed their funding issues by modernizing their gas tax structure or rates, and for various reasons, our states have not followed that path; thus, we are dependent on federal support."
Or in other words, we have not "modernized" our funding of infrastructure needs like most other forward thinking states.
Funny how our Republican leaders don't like welfare and free benefits to others, or at least want to significantly reduce their amounts and peoples' dependency on them. But yet our Governor readily admits "that we (as a state) are dependent on federal support", rather than taking care of ourselves.
The Trump "infrastructure" plan is a shell game.
One, it calls for the States to spend $1.3 trillion dollars rebuilding our national infrastructure with the federal government providing just $20B in direct funding and another $180B in block grants and incentives. You know how many crooked hands that money will touch before it ever sees a road project?
Two, on the heels of a tax cut that created an additional trillion dollars in deficit, the Trump plan proposes no source of funding the federal incentives, and leaves the rest of the funding up to State governments.
Meanwhile we're trying to fight the Chinese economic machine with comically misguided tariffs while they develop the most sophisticated infrastructure and economy in the world.
3:40 so far no real tariffs. This seems to me to a way to get everybody to the table to work all this out. My guess and it is just a guess, the huge tariffs will not be the end result on either side.
12:35 yes what happened to all that shovel ready money (BILLIONS)? My guess social programs and special interest groups.
3:40 yep dirty dirty hand will get a big piece of this $$$$$.
Let's do it. After all now that the Muslim is no longer in the White House, the deficit, national debt, doesn't exist!
Since 2012, over 25 states have addressed their funding issues by modernizing their gas tax structure or rates, and for various reasons, our states have not followed that path; thus, we are dependent on federal support.
Wow, that speaks volumes about the thinking of the Gov. The Legislative session just ended, both side of the aisle had road and bridge infrastructure plans, neither passed muster and the Gov. is off crying to the Feds.
Didn't a group of businessmen make a recommendation to increase the gas tax a few years ago and the effort failed due to a lack of leadership in the State?
Sounds to me like the Gov. is trying to pass the responsibility of infrastructure, first to the cities and counties and now to the federal government. That way he can wrap himself in the no tax increase blanket and also blame other levels of government for failing to make the improvements.
What a poor example of leadership.
Those shovel ready projects were completed. Too bad Mississippi was so anti Obama that they refused the funds.
Mississippi already gets more federal dollars then it sends in in taxes. The simple solution is to raise the fuel tax. I drive and use the roads and would not mind paying more of the roads were decent.
I think many people who never leave MS get used to the crap we drive on and don’t realize what nice and normal roads truly are until you leave the state and see what truly a third world backwoods we are when it comes to infrastructure.
And Oh, “F” John Bel Edwards.
It’s a disgrace that the Port of Gulfport to I-10 connector isn’t completed. Numerous articles are being printed regarding the need for port upgrades and Mississippi is yet to do anything about them much less improving and maintaining current roadways and bridges. And where the heck is the Mississippi Development Authority? They should have been leading the charge for infrastructure funding. Mississippi has many more resources than Louisiana. No leadership. No vision. No utilization of opportunities. Shameful.
The poor condition of your roads is not why economic development does not come to Mississippi. Your educational institutions are pathetic – particularly your so-called flagship university. Why don’t you people fix this?
"12:35 yes what happened to all that shovel ready money (BILLIONS)? My guess social programs and special interest groups."
IIRC most of it was spent on salaries for pre-existing employees in government unionized jobs (e.g., teachers, police). No new infrastructure. Eventually Joe Biden admitted they squandered the money.
The shovel-ready money went to Iran and became nuke ready money.
This is almost funny. The two states that are a collection of fiefdoms and can't ever come up with an infrastructure plan that would benefit their entire state by prioritizing based on effective use of resources are advising the President and Congress.
You attack infrastructure where is will benefit the largest number of citizens first and the roads and bridges that come first should be the ones most traveled.
You plan some types of infrastructure to coordinate and be compatible state-wide.
And, you develop a long term strategy of maintenance and repair based on usage.
But, that would require actually caring about all citizens and not just those who support your political ambitions.
523, your Obama-tinted glasses have again hidden the truth from your brain. Mississippi did not 'refuse' any stimulus money -but the Obama administration rules did not allow most of MississippI to qualify for that billion dollars. High speed rails in CA and the east coast don't run thru MS. solar farms in OH don't reach Southhaven.
We did get a few streets paved with 'stimulus, but they werent in areas most Mississippians drive. Great example in Jackson, running through Belhaven Heights where very few people live and not even a thru street. But with all the heavily traveled and terribly pothole streets in the city, this one got stimulated and still has a great surface. If you can find it.
What we need is to raise income taxes so we can give more corporate tax breaks, because then the corporations can grow faster and make more money and then they will give us all REALLY HUGE bonuses!
"...the Trump plan proposes no source of funding the federal incentives, and leaves the rest of the funding up to State governments."
Almost reminds one of Bill Clinton, during his earlier blowjob years funding thousands of policemen in municipalities across the nation. Then after two years, snatching that funding away leaving the towns all in a lurch.
'Shovel Ready Jobs' was a a meaningless phrase concocted by a White House Focus Group consisting of liberals fresh out of Ivy League schools. None ever existed and the phrase quickly became a joke but another jewel in the crown of an Obama legacy.
"'Shovel Ready Jobs' was a a meaningless phrase concocted by a White House Focus Group consisting of liberals fresh out of Ivy League schools. None ever existed and the phrase quickly became a joke but another jewel in the crown of an Obama legacy. "
And I guarantee you not one member of that group ever wielded a shovel himself/herself/xer self :-)
"And I guarantee you not one member of that group ever wielded a shovel himself/herself/xer self :-)"
Maybe a SNOW-shovel so they could get out of the apartment, crank the Volvo and head over to starbucks.
Bryant said. "Because it is still early, I believe it would be wise to wait for the federal plan to be finalized into law before we act on any of the proposals currently in the Legislature."
This is what Governor Phil Bryant said in the middle of February DURING the legislative session. It killed any momentum that the legislature had at the time of doing anything for infrastructure giving republicans an excuse to not do anything. Now he gets a call from President Trump's Cabinet saying get off your butt and do something. And by the way, Mississippi being the last to do anything to help itself should not surprise anybody.
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