Edwards to take part in White House talk on infrastructure

February 08, 2018 03:01 PM

Gov. John Bel Edwards will participate in a White House meeting next week to discuss infrastructure needs across the country.

Louisiana's Democratic governor will travel to Washington on Monday.

He and Louisiana transportation secretary Shawn Wilson will be part of a talk among federal, state and local leaders about President Donald Trump's proposal to pump more federal dollars into work on roads, bridges, ports and other infrastructure.

Louisiana has a backlog of road and bridge work nearing $14 billion. Edwards sought to raise Louisiana's gasoline tax last year to pump more money into projects, but Republicans in the state House blocked the effort.

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Edwards announced his Washington travel plans Thursday in a speech to the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. He'll return to Louisiana on Monday night.