Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL) had made absolutely clear that he did not approve of the bipartisan infrastructure bill (BIF) when it passed the House in early November, no sir!
Shortly after the chamber passed BIF on Nov. 5, Palmer took to Twitter to complain about “Democrats’ recklessly expensive infrastructure bill” (Democrats had worked with GOP lawmakers on the legislation).
The Republican went on to claim in a fuller statement that both BIF and the Democrats’ $1.75 trillion reconciliation bill containing Biden’s Build Back Better plan were “a Green New Deal wish list” that would increase the debt, which “already presents a serious national security threat,” according to Palmer.
Then, just hours after President Joe Biden signed BIF into law on Monday, Palmer gave himself a gold star for the legislation he painted as a socialist wrecking ball to the U.S. economy.
The GOP lawmaker bragged in an official statement that the package included his proposed legislation that will “provide critical funding” for completing the Birmingham Northern Beltline, a six-lane bypass route around Birmingham, Alabama.
Palmer said the road project was one of his “top priorities.”
“Completing the Northern Beltline will benefit the entire region and enhance economic development and employment opportunities,” he said.
Palmer isn’t the first Republican to take credit for Democrat-led legislation he or she had tried to shoot down: Last spring saw a parade of GOP lawmakers touting the new funding for their local communities provided by Biden’s sweeping COVID-19 relief package–the funding they had flatly voted against.
Classic move. Luckily for him the GOP was outnumbered for once, else he wouldn’t have been able to claim credit.
The Dems and allied Super PACS need to put billboards next to projects in every district of a member who voted against the BIF: “Representative X / Senator Y voted against this project.”
Not “Voted against the bill,” “Doesn’t support rebuilding America,” or some other generic bullshit.
VOTED AGAINST THIS PROJECT.
Pigs at the trough. Cowardly and mendacious pigs, at that.
Well, I give him credit for 1 thing - he acknowledged that the Dems DID NOT freeze out RepubliQans (even though they deserve it) and included projects where needed regardless of the bastards representing that area.
An example of GOP governance at its best.