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On this week\u2019s Talking Michigan Transportation, a conversation with Andy Doctoroff about his op-ed published in the Detroit Free Press examining President Biden\u2019s American Jobs Plan in the context of historic investments in U.S. infrastructure. \xa0

Doctoroff, who has made previous appearances on the podcast in his capacity as the governor\u2019s office\u2019s point person on work to build the Gordie Howe International Bridge, teaches a class he developed on infrastructure at the University of Michigan Law School. He talks about how his research for the class informed his column, which recounts the early resistance in our nation\u2019s capitol to central government investments in \u201cinternal improvements\u201d and explains the evolution over time in thinking.

Acknowledging the challenges President Biden faces, Doctoroff writes: \u201cNever has a Congress as closely divided as this one is, in a country so polarized, passed a major piece of infrastructure legislation. \u2026 Congressional enactment of the Biden administration\u2019s American Jobs Plan would, in one unprecedented stroke, reverse the United States\u2019 centuries-long and rarely interrupted history of underfunding public works.\u201d

Other references:

\u2014\xa0 \xa0 \xa0The 2021 \u201creport card\u201d issued by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

\u2014\xa0 \xa0 \xa0Forbes commentary on President Lincoln\u2019s inspiration for President Biden on an infrastructure plan.\xa0

\u2014\xa0 \xa0 \xa0A 2019 report from the U.S. House Committee on the Budget was based on hearings with several experts concluding the U.S. spends far too little on infrastructure.