Michigan governor puts focus on infrastructure in Democratic response

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in the Democratic response to President Trump’s State of the Union address focused much of her remarks on work Democrats are doing to improve the nation’s roads and bridges.

The focus on infrastructure comes a week after House Democrats unveiled a proposal to spend $760 billion over five years to improve the nation’s roads, bridges and waterways, signaling the party’s focus on the issue in a presidential election year. 

Whitmer said it reflected the Democratic desire to meet the needs of constituents.

“During my campaign, people told me to fix the damn roads — because blown tires and broken windshields are downright dangerous. And car repairs take money from rent, child care or groceries,” Whitmer said Tuesday night. “And we — the Democrats — are doing something about it.”

Whitmer also argued that efforts to improve the nation’s crumbling infrastructure had been hampered by Trump and congressional Republicans. She noted Monte Scott, a 13-year-old from Muskegon Heights, Mich., who began filling in potholes on his street from a bucket of dirt.

“When it comes to infrastructure, Monte has tried to do more with a shovel and a pile of dirt than the Republicans in D.C. have — with the Oval Office and the U.S. Senate,” she said. “Bullying people on Twitter doesn’t fix bridges; it burns them. Our energy should be used to solve problems.”

“All across the country, Democratic leaders are rebuilding bridges, fixing roads, expanding broadband and cleaning up drinking water,” Whitmer added. “Everyone in this country benefits when we invest in infrastructure.”