Amid all of the Democratic opposition to President Donald Trump's agenda in his first 100 days, the talk of a $1 trillion infrastructure plan is something Democrats can agree to and work with the White House and Republicans on, former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell said Sunday.
"Us as Democrats have to not worry about giving President Trump a victory," Rendell, also a former Democratic National Committee chairman, told "The Cats Roundtable" on 970 AM in New York. "We have to give America a victory."
Rendell told host John Catsimatidis there is a rare opening for resisting Democrats to work with the oft-maligned president on the issue of infrastructure spending.
"I believe very strongly that there can be [a deal] . . . when the president is moving in the right direction, we've got to work with him to try to get things done in this country," Rendell said. "We can't put all of our challenges on hold for four years. It doesn't work. The infrastructure of this country is collapsing as we talk."
Rendell added, though Trump's $1 trillion plan might be $2 trillion short of what is needed.
"Give Donald Trump credit," Rendell said. "He talks about a $1 trillion infrastructure program. Now, that's actually too little . . . We need about a $2 trillion additional investment on top of what we plan to spend now in the next 10 years to get the American infrastructure up to a 'B,' not to an 'A' but up to a 'B.'"
This spending gives something to Americans, helps feed the economy, and helps bolster the tax rolls – "it's not like other type of spending" – Rendell said.
"A $1 trillion investment in infrastructure would produce about 2.5 million new, well-paying jobs . . . and these jobs produce taxes," he added.
"This has to happen. This is the one area where Democrats and Republicans, with the president stepping in and leading, can really accomplish something significant for the country."