Fifty-eight years ago, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed into law the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. That major infrastructure bill enjoyed strong bipartisan support, and the fact that many Democrats in Congress voted for it didn't discourage the Republican president from getting behind it.
In fact, many Democrats who voted to reelect Eisenhower that year liked the fact that he helped expand and improve the United States' infrastructure.
But in a biting New York Times opinion column published on April 1, liberal economist Paul Krugman fears that 2024's MAGA Republicans — unlike Eisenhower in 1956 — will tank a vitally important infrastructure project: the rebuilding of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed in late March after being struck by a cargo ship.
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"If America were still the same country that enacted the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 — passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress and signed into law by a Republican president — which gave rise to our interstate system, there would be little question that Congress would approve funding soon after it returns from Easter recess," Krugman explains. "But we aren't that country anymore. (President Joe) Biden will probably be able to get funds for rebuilding, but it's by no means a sure thing."
Krugman adds that "MAGA is only part of the problem," as the United States was plagued by "extreme partisanship" long before former President Donald Trump "took control of the GOP."
Krugman recalls that back in 2007, there was bipartisan support for rebuilding the Interstate 35W Bridge in Minnesota after it collapsed.
That year, Republican George W. Bush was president, but Democrats had regained control of the U.S. House of Representatives following the 2006 midterms. Barack Obama was sworn in as president in January 2009.
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"Indeed, within days, Congress voted unanimously to provide $250 million in aid," Krugman recalls. "But that was a one-off. The Minnesota bridge collapse highlighted the decaying state of America's infrastructure, and one might have expected the disaster to lead to real action, but it didn't. President Barack Obama pleaded with Congress to approve broad increases in infrastructure spending and was able to sign a highway funding bill in 2015, but for the most part, he was stymied by GOP opposition."
Krugman adds, "As president, Donald Trump repeatedly promised to revamp America's infrastructure — 'It's Infrastructure Week' became a running joke — but never delivered."
The economist points out that Baltimore's port "plays a key role in both exports of coal and trade in farm and construction equipment" and that rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge is crucial from an economic standpoint.
"So, will partisanship and conspiracy theorizing get in the way of rebuilding the Key Bridge?" Krugman writes. "I'd like to dismiss that risk. But not that long ago, if you had asked me, I wouldn't have expected Republicans to stonewall aid to Ukraine, either."
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Paul Krugman's full New York Times column is available at this link (subscription required).