Nebraska needs good infrastructure and bipartisan solutions

et's talk needs versus wants, particularly as it relates to two packages under consideration in Congress – the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package and a $1.75 trillion budget reconciliation bill. Infrastructure is a need. A big social spending and climate bill is a president's want.

Our communities, state and nation are still recovering from economic and personal hits we took during the pandemic and, in Nebraska, historic floods just prior. Now, we face record deficit spending, spiking inflation, a workforce crisis and supply shortages.

We need good roads. We need broadband for everyone in all corners of every state. We need clean water and fewer lead-contaminated pipes. We need to expand port capacity. We need safe, secure transportation systems to get both products to market and people to good jobs and back home to their families. Everyone knows our current federal funding system for infrastructure is not keeping up with our needs. This type of package is at least 10 years in the making.

In fact, our unquestionable need for good infrastructure drove lawmakers of both parties to work on a solution – a bipartisan infrastructure package that a clear majority of all voters support, regardless of party.

Here's what bipartisan work delivers:

· A fully paid plan without raising taxes or growing the national debt

· Direct investment in physical infrastructure, not new government programs

· Jobs (at least 500,000 by some accounts)

· Greater energy independence and homeland security

· Investment in physical structures that hold long-term value and helps curb inflation.

Nebraska, alone, would receive $3 billion for roads, bridges, broadband, transit, electric grid, water and air travel improvements.

The budget reconciliation bill being negotiated by Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives is a list of wants. Even in its pared back form at $1.75 trillion, the package significantly grows social spending programs to include universal pre-K, extended childcare, earned income and Affordable Care Act credits, expanded Medicare and more. Importantly, it would be all at the cost of a host of new tax burdens that diminish the competitiveness of U.S. businesses, particularly those operating overseas.

No question, these are certainly critical issues worth Congress's attention, but why not the bipartisan Congressional approach that delivered a measured, focused infrastructure plan that is proven to deliver results and is paid for within our means?

The NE Chamber supports the bipartisan infrastructure package. We question whether the budget reconciliation bill, with far from same level of bipartisan scrutiny and collaboration, truly reflects the needs of our nation.

Let's face our issues head on, but let's be judicious, work together and do it right. Let's do it without thrusting our nation into further debt, increasing the cost of doing business, hurting job growth and increasing the cost of living overall – especially when our families and our employers are finally seeing a path to recovery.

One last thing while we're talking about needs and wants: There is one, and probably most urgent, need still not being addressed – our critical workforce shortage and the need for action on bipartisan legal immigration reform ... but that's another letter for another day.