“All Republicans who voted for (the infrastructure bill) should be ashamed of themselves.” — Donald Trump.
By Jack Bernard, contributing columnist
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. | The signed “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act” by President Joe Biden is liked by a wide majority of the American voting public with only 24 percent opposing it. Even among Republican voters, only 44 percent are in opposition, despite Trump’s comments and those of other right wingers.
This majority of Trump voters support the infrastructure bill for good reason. According to a 2021 infrastructure report by ASCE (the American Society of Civil Engineers) scoring system, eleven (of 17) category grades of infrastructure were stuck in the “D range” (A range being perfect, and F failing miserably) of facilities or structures needing significant repairs.
But I cringe every time I hear this vital infrastructure bill described by television pundits as “bi-partisan.” Rep. Lauren Opal Boebert of Colorado described the GOP members who voted for it as “RINOs” (Republicans in name only). In fact, “13 traitor Republicans” is how Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia described the GOP House members (none from the South) who voted for the infrastructure bill versus the 200 who voted against it. My own representative was one of these unenlightened Republicans who are obviously opposed to working in a bi-partisan fashion.
GOP House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy, under pressure from conservatives to take action against those Republican House members who supported the bill, did not rebuke Ms. Greene. Does he, therefore, agree that they are traitors because of this one vote? Or is he just gutless and afraid of President Trump, who also criticized the 13?
What’s in the bill that the Democrats passed with almost no GOP House support? Per the non-partisan ASCE, this new law includes major investments in: roads/bridges ($100 billion); rail ($66 billion); broadband internet access ($65 billion); assistance to states/localities in preparing for fires, draughts, etc. ($46 billion); public transit ($39 billion); and ports/waterways ($17 billion).
For the above reasons, the bill was strongly supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which explained why the bill is good for all Americans. Among their reasons are:
- Assisting our competitiveness with China;
- Cutting red tape;
- Ensuring internet access for rural Americans;
- Strengthening agriculture; and
- Addressing the challenges of climate change.
President Biden’s original proposal would have more than paid for the cost of our infrastructure improvements in part by raising corporate taxes. That funding source was pulled out because of conservative opposition, fueled by the usual self-interested corporate interests. As it is, the bill is funded through unused Covid and unemployment monies, as well as superfund fees and increased tax enforcement.
The new law will negatively impact the deficit, says the Congressional Budget Office, the only adverse impact. However, I do not know of any GOP leader (McCarthy, McConnell or Trump) supporting the corporate taxation which would have avoided this deficit issue. Passing a bill which does not negatively affect the deficit will only happen when we have a truly bipartisan proposal plus have responsible leaders in both parties.
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