The nation’s aging infrastructure is a hot topic in Washington, D.C., as Congress and the president grapple with the best approach to revitalize roads, ports, tunnels, bridges and airports.

Do they go all in with $1 trillion in public works funding or take a free-market approach to incentivize private investment?

The question as it relates to airport improvements is important because it could affect how much money is directed toward smaller, regional airports like ours.

Under the current system, numerous aviation taxes are imposed by the federal government. A portion of these funds are disbursed through grants to airports nationwide to finance improvements. Critics of this type of centralized redistribution system say it unfairly deflects money away from the biggest airports with the most passenger traffic. Air travelers are subsidizing improvements at small airports they rarely use.

Read more at The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel.