Iowa, Texas Republicans hail benefits from Biden infrastructure bill they opposed

[homersapien 11,440]

Reps. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) and Kay Granger (R-Tex.) voted against the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal in November but are now touting funding for projects in their states, thanks to the measure

By Mariana Alfaro

 

Republican Reps. Ashley Hinson (Iowa) and Kay Granger (Tex.) voted against the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal that President Biden signed into law last November, criticizing it as “spending at its worst” and arguing that it was emblematic of a socialist push by the Democratic Party.

But now that money from the package is starting to reach their home states, the two Republicans are touting the achievements of a bill they vociferously opposed.

In a statement Wednesday, Hinson celebrated the allocation of $829.1 million in funding from the infrastructure deal — one of the Biden administration’s key achievements — for the modernization of locks and dams on the Mississippi River, which borders her Iowa district.

“This landmark investment will be game-changing for Iowans and communities along the Mississippi River like Dubuque,” Hinson said in a joint statement issued by a group of bipartisan lawmakers from Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. “That’s why I helped lead a bipartisan group of my colleagues in urging the administration to prioritize funding for these essential upgrades. I’ll always fight to ensure Iowans’ taxpayer dollars are reinvested at home in Iowa.”

In a November statement, Hinson described efforts to pass the infrastructure bill as having been “torpedoed by partisan politics.” The need, she said, to make “meaningful investments” in infrastructure “was sacrificed to advance a partisan, socialist spending spree.”

She also accused the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, namely Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), of hijacking negotiations and said the bill was “the biggest leap toward socialism this nation has ever seen.”

“It takes the Marxist ideology that once only existed in textbooks and makes it law in the United States of America,” she said.

In a similar statement Wednesday, Granger, the top Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, celebrated the news that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would spend $403 million for a flood control project in her home state. That funding was allocated as a result of the infrastructure bill, which in November Granger described as a “liberal wish list.”

“Instead of working together on a targeted infrastructure proposal focused on our nation’s true needs, [House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi chose to pave the way for her nearly $2 trillion socialist plan full of crushing taxes and radical spending,” Granger said back then.

Ultimately, only 13 House Republicans voted for the infrastructure bill — and were heavily criticized by former president Donald Trump for doing so. Some, like Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), received threatening messages after voting for the bill.

Hinson’s promotion of the funds earmarked by the bill did not go unnoticed by Democrats. In a tweet, Iowa state Sen. Liz Mathis (D), who is running against Hinson for the House seat, accused Hinson of “taking credit for work she didn’t do.”

“You voted against the bipartisan infrastructure bill,” Mathis tweeted. “The bill clearly isn’t 'spending at its worst’ now that you want to take credit for it.”

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee also called out Hinson, with spokeswoman Elena Kuhn accusing her of trying to “rewrite her record.”

A spokeswoman for Hinson, Sophie Seid, explained that once the money was available from the law, the congresswoman was going to pursue it for Iowa.

“Since the bill was signed into law, this money was going to be spent regardless. If there’s federal money on the table she is, of course, going to do everything she can to make sure it is reinvested in Iowa,” Seid said in a statement. “That’s why she worked with a bipartisan group of her colleagues in asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prioritize NESP construction along the Upper Mississippi River.”

A spokesman for Granger did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.

 

[wdefromtx 3,159]

42 minutes ago, homersapien said:

Reps. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) and Kay Granger (R-Tex.) voted against the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal in November but are now touting funding for projects in their states, thanks to the measure

By Mariana Alfaro

 

Republican Reps. Ashley Hinson (Iowa) and Kay Granger (Tex.) voted against the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal that President Biden signed into law last November, criticizing it as “spending at its worst” and arguing that it was emblematic of a socialist push by the Democratic Party.

But now that money from the package is starting to reach their home states, the two Republicans are touting the achievements of a bill they vociferously opposed.

In a statement Wednesday, Hinson celebrated the allocation of $829.1 million in funding from the infrastructure deal — one of the Biden administration’s key achievements — for the modernization of locks and dams on the Mississippi River, which borders her Iowa district.

“This landmark investment will be game-changing for Iowans and communities along the Mississippi River like Dubuque,” Hinson said in a joint statement issued by a group of bipartisan lawmakers from Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. “That’s why I helped lead a bipartisan group of my colleagues in urging the administration to prioritize funding for these essential upgrades. I’ll always fight to ensure Iowans’ taxpayer dollars are reinvested at home in Iowa.”

In a November statement, Hinson described efforts to pass the infrastructure bill as having been “torpedoed by partisan politics.” The need, she said, to make “meaningful investments” in infrastructure “was sacrificed to advance a partisan, socialist spending spree.”

She also accused the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, namely Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), of hijacking negotiations and said the bill was “the biggest leap toward socialism this nation has ever seen.”

“It takes the Marxist ideology that once only existed in textbooks and makes it law in the United States of America,” she said.

In a similar statement Wednesday, Granger, the top Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, celebrated the news that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would spend $403 million for a flood control project in her home state. That funding was allocated as a result of the infrastructure bill, which in November Granger described as a “liberal wish list.”

“Instead of working together on a targeted infrastructure proposal focused on our nation’s true needs, [House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi chose to pave the way for her nearly $2 trillion socialist plan full of crushing taxes and radical spending,” Granger said back then.

Ultimately, only 13 House Republicans voted for the infrastructure bill — and were heavily criticized by former president Donald Trump for doing so. Some, like Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), received threatening messages after voting for the bill.

Hinson’s promotion of the funds earmarked by the bill did not go unnoticed by Democrats. In a tweet, Iowa state Sen. Liz Mathis (D), who is running against Hinson for the House seat, accused Hinson of “taking credit for work she didn’t do.”

“You voted against the bipartisan infrastructure bill,” Mathis tweeted. “The bill clearly isn’t 'spending at its worst’ now that you want to take credit for it.”

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee also called out Hinson, with spokeswoman Elena Kuhn accusing her of trying to “rewrite her record.”

A spokeswoman for Hinson, Sophie Seid, explained that once the money was available from the law, the congresswoman was going to pursue it for Iowa.

“Since the bill was signed into law, this money was going to be spent regardless. If there’s federal money on the table she is, of course, going to do everything she can to make sure it is reinvested in Iowa,” Seid said in a statement. “That’s why she worked with a bipartisan group of her colleagues in asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prioritize NESP construction along the Upper Mississippi River.”

A spokesman for Granger did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.

 

They fail to mention that the funding for the flood control project was already planned years ago and USACE was already scheduled to have funds available this year to continue on with the project which started 10 years ago anyways. The TRWD was going to have this funded even if the infrastructure bill did not get passed. 

[CoffeeTiger 5,169]

Can a Republican ever make a statement without the words socialist, Marxist, or communist showing up somewhere? 

and they always use the words interchangeably despite the terms having different meanings. 

 

I'd be willing to bet real money that 90% of Republican politicians couldn't give an accurate definition of the terms if you them put on the spot. 

[homersapien 11,440]

19 hours ago, wdefromtx said:

They fail to mention that the funding for the flood control project was already planned years ago and USACE was already scheduled to have funds available this year to continue on with the project which started 10 years ago anyways. The TRWD was going to have this funded even if the infrastructure bill did not get passed. 

Socialism is socialism! 

"In a statement Wednesday, Hinson celebrated the allocation of $829.1 million in funding from the infrastructure deal — one of the Biden administration’s key achievements — for the modernization of locks and dams on the Mississippi River, which borders her Iowa district. "

You'll have to prove your assertion that this amount of money would have been spent anyway. I have my doubts.

(And this story included projects in Iowa.)

Edited January 23, 2022 by homersapien

[wdefromtx 3,159]

1 hour ago, homersapien said:

Socialism is socialism! 

"In a statement Wednesday, Hinson celebrated the allocation of $829.1 million in funding from the infrastructure deal — one of the Biden administration’s key achievements — for the modernization of locks and dams on the Mississippi River, which borders her Iowa district. "

You'll have to prove your assertion that this amount of money would have been spent anyway. I have my doubts.

And the bill included projects in Iowa.

I am referring to the project that Kay Granger referred to. It has been an ongoing project in Fort Worth since at least 2002. I know because I worked on some of the engineering at the time and also now have property investments in the area that is to be developed since part of the flood control is designed to mimic the waterways in San Antonio. The City of Fort Worth has already spent 100's of millions of dollars acquiring certain property, TXDOT has already opened new bridges, new recreation venues have been added. The USACE has already done a lot to the waterways and in 2016 the project was authorized under the WIIN Act and for funding for the remaining portions of the flood control project. So yeah, this money was already going to be spent on this project anyways. The appropriations committee with the help of local representatives (one that is one of the few decent Democrat reps.) to tap into this money to push the project ahead of schedule. 

About the Panther Island / Central City Flood Project in Fort Worth, Texas (pantherislandcc.com)

Edited January 21, 2022 by wdefromtx

[homersapien 11,440]

2 hours ago, wdefromtx said:

I am referring to the project that Kay Granger referred to. It has been an ongoing project in Fort Worth since at least 2002. I know because I worked on some of the engineering at the time and also now have property investments in the area that is to be developed since part of the flood control is designed to mimic the waterways in San Antonio. The City of Fort Worth has already spent 100's of millions of dollars acquiring certain property, TXDOT has already opened new bridges, new recreation venues have been added. The USACE has already done a lot to the waterways and in 2016 the project was authorized under the WIIN Act and for funding for the remaining portions of the flood control project. So yeah, this money was already going to be spent on this project anyways. The appropriations committee with the help of local representatives (one that is one of the few decent Democrat reps.) to tap into this money to push the project ahead of schedule. 

About the Panther Island / Central City Flood Project in Fort Worth, Texas (pantherislandcc.com)

So if spending this money was already planned, why did these Republican politicians argue it was "socialism" and then voted against it? 

Edited January 21, 2022 by homersapien