Former Missouri Representative Cori Bush, known for her role in “The Squad,” is attempting to reclaim her seat in the upcoming 2024 election. Recently, she took to social media to express frustration about the lack of funding for public transit in Congress. However, this criticism raises eyebrows given her past votes.
In 2021, Bush was part of a group of progressive lawmakers who voted against the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which would have allocated up to $108 billion for public transit improvements. This act was crucial for upgrading transit infrastructure across the nation. Bush and her colleagues opposed the bill because they wanted a greater allocation toward their agenda, including funding for universal pre-K and healthcare expansions.
During her social media posts, Bush argued that reliable transit is vital for meeting the fundamental needs of St. Louis residents. “Reliable transit service is essential in meeting the most basic needs of St. Louis,” Bush stated, indicating that she plans to prioritize legislation that supports transit funding upon her return to Washington. This declaration seems at odds with her previous actions, which included opposing significant funding that could have improved transit services in her district.
Critics, including campaign strategist Colin Reed, highlight the disconnect between Bush’s rhetoric and her voting history. Reed remarked, “Campaign rhetoric has a nasty habit of colliding with contradictory votes from the past, undermining politicians’ credibility and trust.” This observation underscores the challenges Bush faces in convincing voters, especially after they previously chose to unseat her.
Bush’s campaign responded to questions regarding the inconsistency between her criticism of Congress’s transit funding priorities and her past votes. They argued that her opposition stemmed from the infrastructure bill’s separation from the more comprehensive Build Back Better program, which included various social and environmental initiatives that Bush felt were essential for her constituents. A spokesperson emphasized, “She’s been clear and consistent on this: her vote was because the infrastructure bill was uncoupled from Build Back Better, which contained those policies.”
Bush’s political journey began amid the heightened activism following the Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson in 2014. Her rise to power culminated in 2020 when she defeated longtime incumbent Rep. William Lacy Clay Jr., making her the first Black woman to represent Missouri in Congress. However, her alignment with radical left policies, alongside other “Squad” members, has been a focal point of her political identity.
Reed’s comments suggest that without a significant shift in strategy or perception, Bush’s efforts to return to Congress may meet similar resistance from voters. Mark Bednar, a former communications head for the now-former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, expressed skepticism about Bush’s campaign. He pointed out her perceived hypocrisy, criticizing her for claiming to champion public transit while having voted against significant funding for it.
Bednar stated, “Whether it’s driving an SUV but demanding everyone else must live under the Green New Deal, spending thousands on private security while calling to defund the police, or now trying to hide from her own voting record, Cori Bush’s hypocrisy is nothing short of jaw-dropping.”
As Bush prepares for the upcoming election, her ability to reconcile her past decisions with her current platform remains uncertain. With voters already having rejected her once, the stakes are high as she campaigns to regain a position in Congress.
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