Congressional Republicans Don't Want to Pay for Infrastructure Funding They Claim They Support
November 2, 2011
"Everybody believes we have infrastructure deficiencies and more needs to be spent to repair, replace and in some cases build new infrastructure…The problem is nobody wants to pay for it."
– Speaker John Boehner [AP, 11/1]
The GOP claims they support critical investments in our nation's crumbling infrastructure but still they oppose the American Jobs Act which includes funding for rebuilding our roads, bridges, railways and airports and is paid for by ensuring all Americans pay their fair share. From Think Progress:
…it's simply not true that "nobody" has tried to craft a bill that both invests in infrastructure and is paid for. President Obama's American Jobs Act included money for infrastructure and was paid for by higher income taxes for the wealthiest Americans. Senate Democrats, meanwhile, plan to hold a vote this week on a bill that combines $50 billion in direct infrastructure spending with another $10 billion to start a national infrastructure bank…Boehner is trying to deflect attention from the GOP's constant obstruction of infrastructure bills. [11/2]
It's time for Congressional Republicans do what's right for our nation and work with Democrats to pass President Obama's American Jobs Act.