North Carolina Republican says measure dedicates just a fraction of its $1.2 trillion toward roads and bridges
Rep. Ted Budd, R-N.C., told "Fox Report" he found a few "ashen" Democrats in the House elevators following the failure to vote on President Biden's infrastructure plan, which he called a "Trojan horse."
The
infrastructure measure passed the Senate in August, but the House
hasn't had as much luck, facing infighting between progressives and
moderates over Biden's massive $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation
package. The far-left wing of the Democratic caucus, which is in favor
of the spending package, refused to back the former without agreement on
the latter.
Budd called the infrastructure bill "a Trojan horse
to get us more socialism," suggesting Biden had misled when he
campaigned as a moderate during the 2020 presidential election.
"And
Joe Biden is fully onboard even to the point of taking the $1.2
trillion bill yesterday so that he can even more quickly get to the $3.5
trillion Bernie Sanders level of spending," the North Carolina
Republican said.
Budd said the infrastructure plan may have been
advertised as bipartisan, but "only 10% of the 1.2 trillion" of the $110
billion would be funneled toward roads and bridges. Reports show that
the measure includes a sizable amount of money for environmental
provisions such as $5 billion for electric cars for the federal
government fleet, $50 million for community climate incentive grants,
and $1 billion for an "electrical vehicle charging equity program."
Budd also blamed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
for the delayed vote for failing to keep an earlier pledge she made to
moderate Democrats. He knew firsthand how upset Democrats were when they
realized the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill had been shelved for the
moment, he shared.
MCCONNELL ACCUSES DEM LEADERS OF ‘LETTING THE RADICAL LEFT RUN CAPITOL HILL’ AFTER INFRASTRUCTURE BILL STALLS
"She
didn't even keep her promise to them," Budd said. "So, I mean, this is
just total disarray. I was talking with Democrats in the elevator
yesterday in Washington, and they were ashen. I mean, they were stunned
at Joe Biden coming in there and taking their own bill."
BIDEN SAYS 'EVERYBODY IS FRUSTRATED; AS AGENDA STALLS IN CONGRESS AMID DEM DIVISION
One of those moderates, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., who along with Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., has been the target
of left-leaning media and her progressive colleagues for her opposition
to Biden's $3.5 trillion spending package, also sounded off on the
House's infrastructure faux pas.
"The failure of the U.S. House to hold a vote on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is inexcusable and deeply disappointing for communities across our country," Sinema said
in a statement. "Denying Americans millions of good-paying jobs, safer
roads, cleaner water, more reliable electricity, and better
broadband-only hurts everyday families."
She added that the House's behavior "erodes" the trust of the American people.
"Democratic leaders are letting the radical left run Capitol Hill," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a similarly scathing statement.
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