President Obama’s call in his State of the Union address for more funding for highways, transit and other infrastructure has launched what should be a rugged fight with congressional Republicans this year over public-works spending. Obama and his Democratic allies in Congress will push to
boost infrastructure funds, but the GOP, seeking to capitalize on its new House majority, has its budget knives out. The outcome will shape the federal public- works sector, one of the few recent bright spots for a construction industry still struggling to emerge from a severe recessionary slump.