With health-care changes at a standstill and tax reform - another objective on which Republicans campaigned last year - a complex project that is expected to take months, Democrats hope infrastructure spending will emerge as a desirable legislative win for Congress and the White House.
The Democratic push came in a week when President Trump appeared to acknowledge that his campaign promise to raise $1tr for infrastructure largely through private-sector investment was not feasible.
Democrats on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee sent a letter last week asking to meet with Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao, reminding her of her confirmation-hearing promise to work in bipartisan fashion in delivering on Trump’s campaign promise.
That appeal is buttressed by an internal committee document in which the Democrats outline their infrastructure priorities for Chairman Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.). Barrasso expressed worries at committee hearing in February that rural states like his wouldn’t attract much of the private investment Trump promised.
