Infrastructure

Kayla, Trei, Ricky & Nico

FEDERALISM
Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between
the federal government and the states
Costs
Can lead to inequities between the levels of
government with vast differences in laws
and methods of enforcement
Leads to a lack of accountability:
overlapping local/state/federal govt
responsibilities creates a gray area
Prevents a creation of national policy: the
US does not have a single policy on issues,
which can be confusing
Benefits
Provides more protection for individual
rights, it gives people more choices each
state can offer different services at
different costs (taxes) to support them
Creates laboratories of democracy: states
can try out new social/economic policies
without the entire nation adopting it
Encourages pluralism: people have more
opportunities to get involved in their govt.
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FEDERALISM

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What comes to mind when you hear the word...

INFRASTRUCTURE?

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A LOOK AT INFRASTRUCTURE...

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BACKGROUND OF INFRASTRUCTURE
In government, infrastructure is defined as the basic support systems needed to
keep an economy going. This includes power, communications, transportation,
water, sanitation, and education systems.
Infrastructure spending peaked in the 1950s as the Federal Highway System was
being built, but it has remained relatively stagnant since then
Americas infrastructure is currently in a poor condition
Received an overall grade of D-plus in a report card published this week by
the American Civil Society of Engineers
Bridges, roads & dams lowest scores
President Trump vowed to build new roads, and highways, and bridges, and
airports, and tunnels, and railways all across our wonderful nation.

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INFRASTRUCTURE OVER TIME

Federal infrastructure
spending (green line)
has been stagnant
between 1979 and
2014.

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CASE STUDY: Hurricane Katrina
The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina left
many questions as to whether the federal
government or the state government should
have a major role in meeting future
catastrophic emergencies
State and local governments are the first
responders to natural disasters, but the
breadth of the disaster quickly overwhelmed
most of the local infrastructure
This lead to an issue of determining the
appropriate level of federal and state
powers and responsibilities
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 ISSUES WITH FEDERALISM IN INFRASTRUCTURE
The biggest issue is this: the federal govt has the most power over infrastructure in America,
but most of the spending/implementation of infrastructure comes from the state/local govts.
Federal Govt has the most power
Interstate highways are federal property so they get paid
for with federal money
State highways are state property and get paid for with
state money, federal money, and state gasoline taxes
City streets are maintained by the city. Sometimes federal
or state grants are issued to local projects (except snow
plowing)
The Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) Grants
provides funding for projects that address critical issues
facing national highways and bridges
Issues categorical grants and mandates but doesnt supply
funding to state/local govts
Spending/Implementation falls on State/Local Govts
With significant decline in federal investment, and
less predictable funding from states, local
governments have assumed an even greater
proportion of fiscal responsibility.
BUT this devolution has not been sufficiently
matched with funding or decision making authority at
the local level.
SO... spending on infrastructure maintenance and
new investments are the most widespread fiscal
stressors for city governments.
The share of overall infrastructure spending coming
solely from state and local governments increased
from 63% in 1980 to 77% in 2014.
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WHO HAS/SHOULD HAVE MORE POWER?
Federal Government has more power
Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956
Delegated most of the responsibility to federal govt
Federal govt will pay 90% of the cost with states paying the last 10%
The federal government should have more power over interstate roads
Interstate travel affects commerce
Commerce Clause
Interstate travel affects the country as a whole
States should still have power over small, localized issues

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FUTURE
Immediate
The federal govt continues to have
more power
Major infrastructure improvements will
be made, says President Trump
(state/local or federal?)
Bicycle and nature trails, landscaping,
community preservation projects, and
junkyard removal are being given
money.
A lot of funding is being done to build
more infrastructure projects
Long-term
Due to a Republican-controlled
Congress, it is possible that the states
will be given more power in
implementing infrastructure policy to
reduce the scope of the national govt
It will take awhile to make
improvements, the ASCE estimated that
it would take $3.6 billion by 2020 to get
infrastructure where it needs to be
Self-driving cars need to be cameras
and sensors on the roads
Tube transportation and networks
Drone delivery networks
Atmospheric water harvesters 11
SHOULD THE POWER BE RE-REGULATED?
Power should not be re-regulated and the federal government should continue to have power
over infrastructure
Even though the federal government is failing to keep the nations infrastructure
systems perfect, it is more efficient and uniform for the federal govt to have the most
power
Instead, the federal govt should provide more sufficient funding to state/local govts
The federal government has more money and more personnel when it comes to
interstates and systems that cross several state borders.
States should take control small issues within their infrastructure systems
Ex: it isnt necessary for national govt to intervene with a local govt sewage issue, but
after a massive hurricane the federal govt should intervene
Free from burdensome mandates and spending restrictions, states could plan, finance,
and build the kind of surface transportation that best addresses the specific problems in
their communities, working with the private sector when appropriate.
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IN SUMMARY
The federal government has more power over infrastructure in the United States.
Through the commerce clause, categorical grants, and federal mandates, it has the
ability to require state and local governments to implement whatever projects it deems
necessary. In recent times, though, state and local governments have made up around
77% of infrastructure spending, while the federal government infrastructure spending
has remained relatively stagnant since the 1970s. The federal government should
have the most power, even though infrastructure currently is not in its best state. It is
more efficient for the federal government to have power over infrastructure regarding
major issues (such as after a hurricane), but states should be given more money and
flexibility in implementing infrastructure projects.

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WORKS CITED:
Home | ASCE. American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), www.asce.org/.

BLOOMP. Advantages/Disadvantages of Federalism, bloomp.net/articles/benefits_federalism.htm.

Kearney, Melissa S., et al. Racing Ahead or Falling behind? 6 Economic Facts about Transportation Infrastructure in
the United States. Brookings, Brookings, 24 Aug. 2016,

America's Infrastructure Receives Poor Assessment. PBS, Public Broadcasting Service,

www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/americas-infrastructure-receives-poor-assessment/.

What Is the Ideal Mix of Federal, State, and Local Government Investment in Infrastructure? Economic Policy
Institute,
www.epi.org/publication/what-is-the-ideal-mix-of-federal-state-and-local-government-investment-in-infrastructure/.

Infrastructure For Rebuilding America (INFRA) Grants. US Department of Transportation, United States Department
of Transportation, 9 Feb. 2016, www.transportation.gov/buildamerica/infragrants.
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