新闻稿中的中期选举预测给民主党人带来了众多众议院多数党和共和党人新利luck保留其参议院的机会。该预测不是一个确定的事情。但是,如果事实证明在11月6日是正确的,那么建筑观点是关于大型基础设施法案是否会在分裂的国会中飞行的。另一个问题是,日益增长的联邦赤字是否会阻止今年的预算协议重复,这使基础设施计划至少为200亿美元。

In the Senate, Democrats need a net gain of two seats to wrest control from the GOP. But analysts predict Democrats will at best pick up one seat and Republicans may gain up to three. In the House, with seven current vacancies, Democrats need a 23-seat gain for the majority. They’re projected to add 20 to 40.

一些观察家希望两党制造将在2019年推动一项主要的基础设施法案。双方都有亲基础设施的历史。2月,特朗普总统发布了一项计划,他在10年内将其定为1.5万亿美元。3月,参议院民主党发出了1万美元的10年计划。

特朗普在10月11日的电视采访中说,他认为他的政府和民主党人可以“相处”。他说:“他们想要基础设施。”“我想要基础架构。有些东西可以使我们团结在一起。”还有一个差距:民主党的计划是全联邦支出,而特朗普的计划仅为2000亿美元。

行业消息来源指出,通过基础设施法案的关键将是找到为此付费的方法,并补充说:“我真的没有看到2019年的收入来源。”国家电气承包商协会政府事务执行董事Marco Giamberardino表示,如果民主党人赢得了众议院并采取“衡量”立场,“基础设施方面可能会有重要的事情发生。”他补充说:“如果是这样,那可能是真正完成的唯一大事。”

Construction also will watch how infrastructure fares in fiscal 2020 appropriations. A February budget pact had a $20-billion infrastructure boost in 2018-19. But the Congressional Budget Office said Oct. 5 the 2018 deficit rose $116 billion, sparking worries about the impact on future construction spending. “Clearly we’ve already heard the rumblings that it’s going to be more difficult for the appropriations process,” says Brian Pallasch, an American Society of Civil Engineers managing director. “Deficits are now going to matter. … If we’re going to shrink the appropriations pie, that’s of concern.”

Sean O’Neill, an Associated General Contractors of America vice president, says, “We would hope that the additional money we got in ’18 and ’19 would be the baseline going forward and we’ll advocate for that.” But he says deficit projections make reaching that goal a challenge.