House works late, passes $1.2T infrastructure bill
Panel weighs in on the spending package to be sent to president's desk on 'Fox News @ Night'
House Republicans opposing the Democrats' $1 trillion infrastructure package reacted swiftly late Friday after their colleagues across the aisle – aided by 13 members of the GOP – passed the legislation.
The bipartisan bill’s passage was viewed a win for the Biden administration and ended weeks of deadlock between moderate and progressive Democrats.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., joins other Democrats on the House floor late Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, in Washington, as the House approves a $1 trillion package of road and other infrastructure projects. (House Television via AP)
Some Republicans who voted "no" called the bill "communist" or "socialist" and decried their GOP colleagues who voted with Democrats.
"Republicans who voted for the Democrats’ socialist spending bill are the very reason why Americans don’t trust Congress," Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, tweeted.
Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., called the bill "garbage," and argued that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi couldn't get it passed without help from the 13 Republicans. The vote was 228-206, with six Democrats, all progressives, voting against it.
HOUSE PASSES BIPARTISAN $1.2 TRILLION INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AFTER PROGRESSIVES DROP OPPOSITION
"RINOS just passed this wasteful $1.2 trillion dollar ‘infrastructure’ bill," Boebert wrote on Twitter. "Time to name names and hold these fake republicans accountable."
"I can’t believe Republicans just gave the Democrats their socialism bill," Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., agreed.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., listed the names of the 13 Republicans who in her words "handed over their voting cards to Nancy Pelosi to pass Joe Biden’s Communist takeover of America via so-called infrastructure."
Kinzinger fires back
Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., who was one of the Republicans to side with Democrats, jabbed back at Greene for her claim about "communism."
"Infrastructure=communism is a new one," he tweeted. "Eisenhower’s interstate system should be torn up or else the commies will be able to conveniently drive! Red Dawn in real life."
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Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C., warned his fellow Republicans before the vote: "Vote for this infrastructure bill and I will primary the hell out of you."
The following 13 Republican congressmen voted in favor of the legislation:
- Adam Kinzinger of Illinois
- Don Bacon of Nebraska
- Don Young of Alaska
- John Katko of New York
- Tom Reed of New York
- Andrew Garbarino of New York
- Nicole Malliotakis of New York
- Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania
- Chris Smith of New Jersey
- Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey
- Fred Upton of Michigan
- Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio
- David McKinley of West Virginia
Many of the Republicans who voted in favor of the legislation expressed the sentiment that the benefits of the bill for the individual states they represent would outweigh its massive price tag.
"Most of the hard infrastructure bill is paid for by unspent COVID money that was already appropriated by Congress. This bill makes our nation stronger and more competitive for years to come," Bacon said in a Friday statement. "Make no mistake. This is not the Bernie Sanders’ Socialist Budget Busting Bill, which would’ve cost American taxpayers their hard-earned money. When that bill does come to the floor for a vote, I will be a hard ‘NO.’"
Young noted in a statement posted to Twitter that the bill "authorizes $3.5 bil[lion] in federal highway funding for Alaska over 5 years."
"This means we can rebuild, maintain, & construct new roads & highways to better serve Alaskans. The benefits for our state do not stop at highway funding alone," he said. "…I've made it clear that I don't like the way this bill made it to the floor. It should've moved via regular order, allowing T&I Chair DeFazio & RM Graves to improve it. But there are no do-overs now, & too much of our infrastructure is already in the 11th hour of its usefulness."
Six House Democrats, know as the "Squad," voted against the bill, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortex of New York, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Cori Bush of Missouri and Jamaal Brown of New York.
The bill, which calls for funding for physical infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, water pipes and broadband internet, will now advance to President Biden’s desk for final approval. Senators already voted 69-30 to approve the legislation in August.
Fox News' Thomas Barrabi contributed to this report.
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