How The Clinton And Sanders Infrastructure Plans Measure Up

[stupidicus]

Clinton's $275 billion infrastructure plan offers modest spending and contains few specifics. Contrast that with candidate Bernie Sanders, who has proposed a highly detailed, $1 trillion plan.

Sanders' infrastructure plan was originally introduced in January as a Senate bill called the Rebuild America Act. A summary is laid out on his campaign issues page, Creating Jobs Rebuilding America. The plan calls for spending $1 trillion over the same five-year period. Here's what his plan includes:http://crooksandliars.com/2015/12/how-clinton-and-sanders-infrastructure

How can this possibly be true? I've read repeatedly from HC supporters that Bernie doesn't do details.

[firebrand80]

1. I propose Eleventy Zillion nt

[think]

2. The American Society of Civil Engineers suggested $1.6 trillion is needed by 2020 to

put America's infrastructure into good repair. That figure doesn’t include innovative infrastructure like universal broadband.

Perhaps one might take into account their numbers and then produce a workable budget?

[Warren Stupidity]

7. Yeah but what would they know?

[stupidicus]

3. am I supposed to find that surprising?

I don't

[Vincardog]

4. IMO HC supporters prefer to live in a fact free world or they are fact averse

[stupidicus]

10. that's just one of several things they share in common

with their rightwing cousins

It's almost like this is the first effort Bernie has made that's had some numbers in it

[Qutzupalotl]

5. The HC supporters making that claim

either don't want to read the bills Sanders introduced, or want us to waste our time looking them up every time they say it.

[HerbChestnut]

8. Or they just want to perpetuate a false narrative

In the hope that undecideds read it and are influenced by it

[karynnj]

14. It's not a completely false narrative --

Hillary Clinton has a huge number of people working for her. Her campaign is staffed more like a general election staff. As a result, they have put out elaborate policy papers on many many things. Bernie has some detailed positions -- and many were introduced as legislation. There are some topics where he has stated his positions, but there are many when he simply states his vision.

[Warren Stupidity]

20. However the professional bullshitters keep insisting that proposals with actual legislation

that provides a detailed outline of the proposal and how it is funded are lacking this information. They just flat out lie.

[karynnj]

21. agree that it is just wrong when they say has no detailed

Policy proposal on EVERYTHING. There are some issues where he has just given his vision, not a detailed policy paper. Part of this reflects that he does not have the huge number of policy advisers that HRC has.

However, assume that either one becomes President and let's assume we regain the Senate. The actual legislation will almost certainly be influenced by the legislators writing it and will not end up as detailed.

For that reason, the vision and principles of candidate are arguably more important. I would further say that it is more important to look at those things the President has a freer hand on. The ability to make war or use diplomacy is one of these things. On a completely different note, getting insight into what type of people they would nominate for things like AG, SoS, and for the Supreme Court tells a lot.

[stupidicus]

11. take your pick eh?

the list could be longer than yours, but all the things on it would be unflattering as well.

[Doctor_J]

6. Clintonistas and other conservatives like to toss out smears that are difficult to disprove

"Sanders has no specifics". "He won't get anything passed". "All of his supporters are rich white people".

They're afraid of getting a piece of the nation back from the banks or Koch brothers.

FWIW, I suspect Mrs. Clinton is triangulating as usual, and plans on giving out most of her infrastructure budget to overpriced private middlemen and/or banksters - much like her healthcare plan.

[stupidicus]

13. you're probably right

unless there's something in it for her, I can't imagine her proposing it

[taught_me_patience]

9. Sanders plans to pay the $200B/year with fairy dust

Or do infrastructure projects pay for themselves?

[stupidicus]

12. of course they will

only shortsighted rightwingers would suggest otherwise

you musta confused this with tax cuts eh?

[Warren Stupidity]

15. actually infrastructure projects more than pay for themselves over the long term

They are a great investment in our future. However half of the funding for the infrastructure proposal would come from the closing of corporate tax loopholes, which would generate $100B/year. The other 100B/year would indeed be part of our annual deficit. However because this money is spent directly on domestic infrastructure programs, it creates jobs, millions of them, and those jobs grow economic activity and that increase tax revenue. It is a virtuous cycle.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

16. yes they do

[stupidicus]

18. well, I woulda thought that common knowledge

but I suppose that should be expected only with BS supporters.

[UglyGreed]

17. Bernie is always

one step ahead

[stupidicus]

19. yep, a regular swami that guy is

his being largely ahead of the DC curve on things is why his ability to lead should never be questioned

[MaggieD]

22. Bernie voted to spend it all on the MIC

So he knows his pie in the sky infrastructure bill is not going to pass.