This week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) brokered a deal with President Trump for a $2 trillion infrastructure investment package.  The agreement was announced from the White House shortly after Democratic Leaders met with President Trump. 

Democrats were optimistic after getting the President to agree to the $2 trillion figure, a priority for Speaker Pelosi.  The tentative agreement is a positive development towards infrastructure legislation but there remains several barriers that could keep an infrastructure package from being enacted.

Earlier this week, the Congressional Democratic Leadership released a letter outlining priorities for infrastructure investment that go beyond roads and tunnels to include water infrastructure, broadband deployment, housing, schools, and other initiatives.  Many of these principles will be embraced by the White House but the critical sticking point is how to raise revenue to finance the $2 trillion cost of investment.  Sources close to Minority Leader Schumer suggest he opposes an increase to the federal gas tax which would be antithetical to most Republican proposals.  Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader Schumer are scheduled to meet with President Trump on infrastructure again in three weeks, at which President Trump is expected to release his proposal for financing the $2 trillion investment.  The outcome of the meeting could determine the prospects of an infrastructure package in the 116th Congress.