POLITICO Influence’s article released today falsely claims Americans for Tax Reform’s letter urging Congress to allow for an open and competitive bidding process in infrastructure projects contravenes President Donald Trump’s pledge to “Buy American.” 

The story from POLITICO Influence wholly mischaracterizes the idea of “Open Competition” which would actually complement President Trump’s Buy American pledge by increasing the number of American firms that can compete for publicly funded infrastructure projects and in doing so would increase taxpayer savings that could be used toward achieving the President’s trillion dollar infrastructure-plan.

It is too often the case that outdated or protectionist policies restrict what types of materials may be used in publicly funded infrastructure projects. This has the effect of preventing new and innovative materials that are often more cost efficient, and the American firms that produce them, from bidding on public infrastructure contracts. As a result the cost of U.S. infrastructure projects can be artificially inflated, costing taxpayers and the country as a whole.

By allowing Open Competition in infrastructure projects more American firms will be able to compete and in turn offer increased savings to American taxpayers in line with President Trump’s Buy American plan.