On November 5th, 2021, during a late evening vote, the house passed a $1,200,000,000,000 Bipartisan Infrastructure bill. It could have been written as $1.2 trillion dollars, but those zeroes need to be seen. What else needs to be seen? That 13 House Republicans who helped the Democrats get the bill passed, which is why they are calling it a “bipartisan” bill. The split? 228-206. Had those thirteen Republicans voted no, the bill would have failed.
So, who are the Republicans who helped the desperate Democrats to get Biden a much needed win? “Rep. John Katko, Rep. Tom Reed, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis and Rep. Andrew Garbarino of New York,” as well as “Don Bacon of Nebraska, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio, Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, David McKinley of West Virginia, Don Young of Alaska, Fred Upton of Michigan, Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey and Chris Smith of New Jersey.”
Believe it or not, six Democrats voted against the bill. “New York City Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman were among the six Democrats to buck party leadership. They were joined by AOC’s fellow “Squad” members Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, and Cori Bush of Missouri.”
One Republican in particular gave a few reasons for her decision to vote for the infrastructure bill. “For far too long, our local, state, and federal leaders have neglected to modernize New York City’s aging infrastructure to keep pace with economic and population growth. The funding stream we are providing today will be used by states and cities to modernize roads, highways, bridges, sewer systems, and flood resiliency projects, including right here on Staten Island and in Southern Brooklyn.”
She followed up by saying that just because she voted for the massive infrastructure bill, she had no intention of doing so for the upcoming “Build Back Better” social spending bill that Biden and the Democrats are trying to get passed. The social bill, which is as it sounds mostly about social entitlement programs and climate change, would cost an additional $1,750,000,000,000 (1.7 trillion).
“The day I vote for any budget thrown together in the dead of night by Senator Bernie Sanders and the socialist squad is the day I purchase a one-way flight to Cuba,” she said. “It is my hope that now that the bipartisan infrastructure bill has passed, we have weakened the socialist’s negotiating hand and perhaps even killed this radical socialist spending spree once and for all.”
I cast my vote FOR the bipartisan infrastructure bill and AGAINST advancing the socialist spending spree. For far too long our leaders have failed to modernize our aging roads, highways & bridges, upgrade sewer systems & implement flood resiliency projects https://t.co/1xT5Ag4AUz
— Nicole Malliotakis (@NMalliotakis) November 6, 2021
Many Republicans were angry, regardless of reasons that the 13 had for not standing strong with their party.
Every Republican who voted for the infrastructure bill must be eliminated from the party
— Rep. Anthony Sabatini (@AnthonySabatini) November 6, 2021
Vote for this infrastructure bill and I will primary the hell out of you.
— Madison Cawthorn (@CawthornforNC) November 6, 2021
The House just passed the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Bill. 13 spineless RINO Republicans voted for the bill. They all need to be primaried. Get them out. All of them.
— Kambree (@KamVTV) November 6, 2021
In the end, how ironic, it was 13 House GOP members who bailed out Pelosi and Biden to support the phony infrastructure bill. Excited for the primaries!
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) November 6, 2021
So… Why did the Squad vote against their party and say no to the infrastructure bill? Ilhan Omar tweeted that it was because she couldn’t vote for one bill without voting on the socialist spending package at the same time.
“From the beginning, I have been clear that I would not be able to support the infrastructure bill without a vote on the Build Back Better Act.”
— Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) November 6, 2021
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has yet to say anything about the Infrastructure Bill, but is fully focused on the 1.75 trillion dollar BBB Act.
Can’t wait for the full on slammed news cycle about how conservative Dems held up Biden’s bill the week of the elections for sudden demands for CBO scores and tax cuts for people with $1 million+ incomes
won’t hold my breath for it though https://t.co/eaTF01folc
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 5, 2021
Rashida Tlaib had no problem explaining her reasons for voting against the “BIF”.
Passing #BIF without a real vote on #BuildBackBetter advances fossil fuel subsidies and cuts to environmental protections without the transformative investments my residents and communities need. My full statement here: https://t.co/rVYJ9RlBNv. pic.twitter.com/jEggqmGhQ5
— Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (@RepRashida) November 6, 2021
Ayanna Pressley stated the same thing as Omar. It was about sticking together and only voting for the bill if it came together.
I voted no tonight on the BIF because I refuse to pit community member against community member.
My full statement: https://t.co/VjjO9bes1W pic.twitter.com/sDoqkrc5Uf
— Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (@RepPressley) November 6, 2021
Jamaal Bowman appears to be sticking with the same sentiment as Pressley and Omar.
We fought hard to vote on both bills together and now we’re here fighting to ensure Republicans don’t obstruct the agenda.
We will keep pushing—we’re nowhere near done. pic.twitter.com/9aaTdf4IBy
— Congressman Jamaal Bowman (@RepBowman) November 5, 2021
Cori Bush has not posted a statement as of publication and below is a video from Fox News about the passing of the bill.
This story syndicated with permission from For the Love of News
"*" indicates required fields
