CHICAGO – The Trump White House released a $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan today that will force local and state governments to privatize public roads, bridges and water systems; weakens environmental standards for public works projects and lays the groundwork for what could be the largest selling off of public infrastructure to private interests in recent history.

People’s Action stands with allies from across the progressive movement in opposing this disastrous infrastructure scam.

“The root of the infrastructure crisis lies in the systemic underfunding of public infrastructure programs and a decades long trend to privatization,” said Ben Ishibashi, People’s Action climate justice organizer. “This infrastructure scam will simply double down on those root causes, encouraging even more sell offs to private companies that are looking to nickel and dime working people through fees and tolls while our infrastructure crumbles around our ears.”

The Trump Administration’s infrastructure plan is in sharp contrast to the plan laid out by the Congressional Progressive Coalition last year. The CPC resolution, introduced by Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA), invests $2 trillion dollars over 10 years in publicly-owned infrastructure like clean water, renewable energy, public schools and public housing. It would create an estimated 2.5 million jobs in its first year. The CPC plan is paid for by closing the tax deferral loophole and ensuring that corporations pay their fair share.

Working class communities and communities of color need and deserve a bold, progressive jobs and infrastructure plan like the one laid out by the CPC, not the lies and giveaways to big corporations that Trump’s plan embodies.

ADVISORY

For February 15, 1018

What: Rally in support of a real, publicly funded infrastructure and jobs programa that are designed to meet the needs of communities of color and working people, not designed to fill the pockets of construction moguls.

Who: Reclaim Chicago, The People’s Lobby, Food & Water Watch Action, People’s Action, Illinois State Sen. governor candidate Daniel Biss and Marie Newman,democratic candidate for congress (IL 3rd District)

Where: Thompson Center, 100 W Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois

When: 10 -11 a.m. Thursday, February 15, 2018

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People’s Action has 48 member organizations in 30 states and more than a million people. Our state and community organizations are led by working class people fighting for economic, climate, racial and gender justice.