Trump unveils plan to stimulate infrastructure improvements
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump unveiled a long-awaited infrastructure plan on Monday that asks the U.S. Congress to authorize $200 billion over 10 years to stimulate $1.5 trillion in improvements paid for by states  localities and private investors.
In remarks at the White House   Trump  cited âthe critical need to rebuild Americaâs crumbling infrastructureâ and said  his  proposal would âspur the biggest and boldest infrastructure investment in American history.â
âOur roads are in bad shape â  Trump  said. âAnd weâre going to get the roads in great shape. And  very important  weâre going to make our infrastructure modernized. And weâre really way behind schedule. Weâre way behind other countries.â
 U.S. President Donald Trump  holds a meeting on  his  infrastructure initiative at the White House in Washington  U.S.  February 12  2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
 Trump  has made  his  infrastructure plan one of  his  top legislative priorities this year  ahead of the November mid-term congressional elections in which Democrats will try to take over control of Congress from  his  fellow Republicans.
Legislation for  Trump âs infrastructure proposal would need 60 votes for passage in the 100-seat Senate. But with Republicans holding only a 51-49 majority  they would need some Democratic support for passage. With strong Democratic opposition expected  the plan faces an uphill battle.
â Trump âs plan is just another giveaway to corporations and wealthy developers at the expense of American workers  and it fails to address some of the most pressing infrastructure needs our country faces â the Democratic National Committee said.
 The president  was meeting with state and local officials including the governors of Wisconsin  Louisiana  Virginia and Maine on Monday  and was due to meet with congressional leaders on Wednesday on the proposal.
âThe problem the states have and local leaders have with funding the infrastructure is horrendous â  Trump  said at the White House.
 Trump  is scheduled to visit the Orlando  Florida area on Friday to try to sell the plan to the public.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -  [TGT]  unveiled a long-awaited infrastructure plan on Monday that asks the U.S. Congress to authorize $200 billion over 10 years to stimulate $1.5 trillion in improvements paid for by states  localities and private investors.
In remarks at the White House   Trump  cited âthe critical need to rebuild Americaâs crumbling infrastructureâ and said   [TGT]   proposal would âspur the biggest and boldest infrastructure investment in American history.â
âOur roads are in bad shape â   [TGT] said. âAnd weâre going to get the roads in great shape. And  very important  weâre going to make our infrastructure modernized. And weâre really way behind schedule. Weâre way behind other countries.â
  [TGT] holds a meeting on   [TGT]   infrastructure initiative at the White House in Washington  U.S.  February 12  2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
  [TGT] has made   [TGT]   infrastructure plan one of   [TGT]   top legislative priorities this year  ahead of the November mid-term congressional elections in which Democrats will try to take over control of Congress from   [TGT]   fellow Republicans.
Legislation for   [TGT]  would need 60 votes for passage in the 100-seat Senate. But with Republicans holding only a 51-49 majority  they would need some Democratic support for passage. With strong Democratic opposition expected  the plan faces an uphill battle.
â  [TGT]  âs plan is just another giveaway to corporations and wealthy developers at the expense of American workers  and it fails to address some of the most pressing infrastructure needs our country faces â the Democratic National Committee said.
  [TGT] was meeting with state and local officials including the governors of Wisconsin  Louisiana  Virginia and Maine on Monday  and was due to meet with congressional leaders on Wednesday on  [TGT] .
âThe problem the states have and local leaders have with funding the infrastructure is horrendous â   [TGT] said at the White House.
  [TGT] is scheduled to visit the Orlando  Florida area on Friday to try to sell the plan to the public.