Vote No, Take the Dough: Infrastructure Edition!

January 21, 2022

House Republicans Celebrate Funding for Local Infrastructure Projects They Voted Against

From the Speaker's Press Office:

This week, the Biden Administration announced $14 billion in Army Corps investments in 500 projects across the nation, all of which are critical to keeping our economic recovery strong and many which are specifically focused on strengthening critical supply chains. These new investments, made possible by the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, will create jobs and economic opportunity, strengthen key water infrastructure projects, improve resiliency to the climate crisis and restore the environment.

It's pretty great stuff… which is why Congressional Representatives from across the country are celebrating local projects that have finally received funding. But once again, House Republicans have been caught voting no and taking the dough!

Here are a few of the GOP members that put out press releases, tweets or were quoted in stories touting the very funding they voted against:

Minority Whip Steve Scalise (LA-1):

Scalise released a laudatory press release, "Scalise Announces Over $1 Billion For Flood Protection, Hurricane Ida Repairs in Louisiana's First Congressional District," but failed to mention that he voted NO on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
It didn't go unnoticed by his hometown papers:
From NOLA.com, "Louisiana levees, infrastructure projects to get $2.7B boost from infrastructure, disaster bills"

…But all those "no" votes didn't stop many of of those same members of Congress from hailing the influx of cash. Scalise, who as the No. 2 Republican in the House helped whip GOP members to vote against both bills, touted the federal spending in a news release Wednesday.

"After Louisiana suffered a direct hit from Hurricane Ida, I am pleased to see the Corps include over $1 billion for projects in Louisiana's First Congressional District," he said. "As our state's recovery continues, I am committed to pushing the Corps to ensure South Louisiana has the resources necessary to restore and improve protection for our citizens and communities."

Scalise's news release did not mention he helped line up opposition to the vote…

From The Advocate, "Infrastructure money released and praised by congress people who didn't vote for the bill"
… Scalise, who represents mostly New Orleans suburbanites in the 1st Congressional District, sent a statement Wednesday announcing more than $1 billion in flood protection "for Louisiana's First Congressional District in the wake of Hurricane Ida." Scalise mentioned the Army Corps of Engineers released the money, but not that the funding was appropriated in the infrastructure bill.

… Back in October prior to the House vote, Minority Whip Scalise, as the third ranking Republican, lobbied his party colleagues to vote against the measure. He and the other four Republicans in Louisiana's House delegation as well as U.S. Sen. John N. Kennedy, R-Madisonville, penned an op-ed explaining why they opposed the infrastructure legislation.

… [Republican Senator] Cassidy, when meeting with reporters Wednesday, wouldn't criticize his Republican colleagues but mentioned the flood mitigation project repeatedly, enunciating how much money came through the infrastructure bill down to the last penny.

GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson (Iowa-1):

Hinson also tweeted out her press release praising funding included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act but failed to mention that she opposed the bill and voted against it.

An Iowa NBC station, WHO 13, published "Hinson welcomes infrastructure funds to Iowa that she voted against in Congress":
…Before its passage, Hinson referred to the bill as a "Socialist spending spree". On Wednesday, though, Hinson claimed credit for helping "lead a bipartisan group" in urging the Mississippi River funding from President Biden. That apparent contradiction is being called into question by Hinson's colleagues – former and current – in the media. California Congressman Eric Swalwell – himself an Iowa native – Tweeted that Hinson should be thankful that "House Democrats passed this bill and … did your dam job."
In HuffPost, "More Republicans Take Credit For Infrastructure Funding They Voted Against," the dramatic turnaround is highlighted:
…"Over 60 percent of our nation's grain exports travel through this lock and dam system, and it is a massive economic engine for the entire state," Hinson, a freshman member of Congress, said in a joint statement along with a bipartisan group of lawmakers from the area who voted for the bill.

"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," she added.

But back in November, before the $1.2 trillion measure passed into law, Hinson called the bill "a raw deal for Iowans" and "spending at its worst." She also objected to the fact that the bill had been linked with the passage of the Build Back Better Act, the Democratic social spending and climate legislation that has now stalled in the Senate.

GOP Rep. Kay Granger (Texas-12):

Granger tweeted out her press release praising funding for Fort Worth included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act but failed to mention that she opposed the bill and voted against it.

Granger was asked about this turn of events today at a press conference according to The Star-Telegram, "Fort Worth Rep. Kay Granger stands by vote against bill that funded Panther Island":

U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, a Fort Worth Republican, stood by her vote against a federal infrastructure bill that provided the funds for the Panther Island project.

…Granger was among those who did not vote for the $1 trillion infrastructure bill. The bill passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives on a 228-206 vote, with 13 Republicans supporting the legislation. All of Texas' Republican House members voted against the measure. At the time, Granger described the legislation as the "latest liberal wish list" and said it would add "$256 billion to our growing national debt," citing the Congressional Budget Office.

… Matt Angle, the director of the Democratic-supporting Lone Star Project, said Granger believed she could "have it both ways" by voting against the infrastructure bill while still taking credit for the project. Angle is from Tarrant County and has long followed the project.

"You got basically Democrats pulling the wagon, Republicans riding and cheering while they're actually trying to slow the wagon trying to slow the wagon down," he said.

GOP Rep. Michelle Steel (California-48):

Steel released a press release, "Steel Statement on Army Corps of Engineers $14 Billion Work Plan," praising the funding for dredging the Newport Beach Harbor. She does not mention that she voted against the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the legislation that made this funding possible.

"This funding for the dredging Newport Beach Harbor is long overdue and will improve the safety of our community while protecting our homes and businesses. There is more work to do, and I will continue to demand action from the Administration and the Army Corps to fully fund the Surfside-Sunset Replenishment Project because we are one natural disaster away from devastation."

GOP Rep. Andy Harris (Maryland-1):

In today's Dorchester Star, "Harris Announces Funding for Slaughter Creek Dredging," Harris praises the local funding made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act without mentioning he voted against the bill:

"I have heard for years the concerns from local citizens and local government officials about the need to dredge Slaughter Creek. Thankfully, with this round of funding, we will begin this long overdue process, and additionally it will allow us to continue the important work of island restoration along the Mid-Shore," Harris said in a statement. "This is a win-win for all parties involved, and I remain committed to ensuring that issues like this receive the proper attention they deserve from the federal agencies responsible."