Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – The $53 billion investment in high-speed passenger rail the Obama administration proposed this week is giving a glimpse of the struggle the president can expect when he announces his new budget next week.

Republicans are saying there is no chance they will approve the amount of spending Obama wants for the rail program.

“In a global economy, we can’t forget that infrastructure is also the veins and the arteries of commerce,” Vice President Joe Biden said during a press conference to announce the proposal.

Obama wants to spend $8 billion on new high-speed rail systems in the coming year and another $45 billion in the next five years.

The rail proposal is expected to be included in the $3.8 trillion annual budget for fiscal 2012 Obama plans to announce Monday.

He calls the railroad spending an “investment” that will return to the economy in terms of new jobs, greater mobility and improved commerce.

Republicans say it would be a waste of money at a time when the federal deficit exceeds $13 trillion.

The Obama administration already has spent $10.5 billion in economic stimulus funds on high-speed rail projects.

Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said the money was not well-spent.

He said Obama “continues to squander limited taxpayer dollars on marginal projects” when the money should be concentrated on the heavily-traveled Northeast Corridor.

Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure railroad subcommittee, said more rail funding could be a good investment, but only if it is allocated better than the first $10.5 billion.

Nevertheless, rail advocates support Biden’s announcement of more money for high-speed projects.

“It’s a smart investment in our economy and our environment that will dramatically improve quality of life for Americans,” said Rick Harnish, executive director of the Midwest High Speed Rail Association.

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