Cleaver: ‘Legitimate’ to Say Biden Infrastructure Bill Has Items Unrelated to Infrastructure
On Wednesday’s broadcast of the Fox News Channel’s “Your World,” Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) stated that it’s “legitimate” to say that there are some provisions of President Joe Biden’s infrastructure package that don’t have anything to do with infrastructure.
Host Neil Cavuto asked, “It seems to be heavy on the tax part, very heavy on spending as well, congressman, that has nothing to do with infrastructure. And that’s what maybe worries some Republicans, maybe some of your more moderate colleagues, who think that however meritorious and kind it is to spend better than 400 billion on care for the elderly and disabled, it has nothing to do with infrastructure. What do you say to that?”
Cleaver responded, “I think that’s a legitimate point. I’ll say that anywhere. That’s a legitimate point. Here’s the challenge for us on that though: First of all, I think the president has opened the door. None of this is in concrete. He wants to sit down and I think he’s going to begin to invite Republicans over to the White House to discuss the funding and any other component of this.”
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Only About 25 Percent of Joe Biden’s $2.5 Trillion Spending Bill Funds Basic Infrastructure
President Joe Biden detailed his massive infrastructure spending proposal Wednesday, but only about 25 percent of the $2.5 trillion bill funds basic infrastructure, according to a fact sheet summary of the bill.
The proposal spends roughly $639 billion on traditional infrastructure, including $115 billion to revamp highways and roads.
Biden would only invest $25 billion in airports and $17 billion for coastal ports, land ports of entry, and ferries.
On rail infrastructure, Biden proposes spending much more with $85 billion to modernize existing transit systems and $80 billion to fix Amtrak’s repair backlog.
Biden proposes to spend $111 billion to replace the country’s lead pipes and service lines, as well as upgrades to drinking, waste, and stormwater systems.
He also calls for $100 billion in spending to build high-speed broadband infrastructure across the country and $100 billion for electric transmission systems.
The rest of the bill’s spending includes massive spending on climate change initiatives such as development for electric vehicles and charging stations, electric school busses and federal vehicles, and clean energy technology.
Other big-spending items include $400 billion on expanding health care, $213 billion on affordable housing, and research training, and development programs.
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