We saw one of the network (that is to say, MSM) news programs glowing about the Congressional passage of the $1.2 Trillion infrastructure bill which includes spending for:
- Roads, Bridges, Major Projects: $110 Billion
- Transit: $39 Billion
- Railways: $66 Billion
- Broadband: $65 Billion
- Water Infrastructure: $55 Billion
Wow! That’s sure a lot infrastructure. However, just from eyeballing the numbers, it seemed to come up short. So, since they didn’t do it it, we took a moment to add up all those Billions of Dollars.
It’s $335 Billion.
Which prompts us to ask this burning question:
Where’s the other $865 Billion going?
Besides the specific items, the list included Major Projects. Does this mean the other $865 Billion is for Minor Projects?
On another MSM news program, we heard a Senator say that when he thinks of infrastructure it means roads, bridges, airports and seaports. Okay, airports and seaports probably qualify as infrastructure. They weren’t on the list of what the other program seemed to think were important items, although they could certainly fall under Major Projects. We think it’s unlikely $865 Billion is going to airports and seaports.
I reckon we’ll have to take a look at the bill to see how much is allocated to what category of infrastructure. It would be easier if somebody willing to publicize it has already done so. Now that it’s apparently “bipartisan”, we suspect there’s an awful lot of stuff in the bill that neither party really wants us to scrutinize.
UPDATE: We just saw a news report that $47 Billion is earmarked for Climate Change. So, $382 Billion identified, only $818 Billion still a mystery. We’re still wondering, though, what is “transit” if it’s not railways, roads, bridges and airports? Subways and buses, maybe? What about electric vehicles, or are they under climate change?