Dozens upon dozens of U.S. House Republicans, Including Rep. Tom Emmer, voted last year against a major infrastructure bill. However, that didn’t stop them from looking for money to fund local projects that would have been funded by the bill.
CNN first reported that dozens of GOP lawmakers opposed to the infrastructure bill wrote Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg asking for assistance. Emmer signed a June letter supporting Anoka County’s grant application for construction of the Minnesota Highway 65 corridor.
Emmer, R-6 the District wrote that “This project is very important for Minnesota because it serves as a crucial corridor of commerce not only for Anoka County but all of the counties along MN65,”
He said that the grant was meant to be a “social justice measure.”
Emmer wrote that the completion of this project will provide better economic opportunities for communities living in economically underserved areas. “Currently, Highway 65 can be very difficult for pedestrians and cyclists to cross. This is often a barrier for economic prosperity for many people living in the area .”
Emmer’s polite letter ended with Emmer thanked Buttigieg for taking the time to write.
But, Emmer attacked the bill after Congress passed the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill:
Biden mocked Republicans for voting against the infrastructure bill, and then seeking its funding. Many of them called the president’s initiative “Socialist”, but they wrote that funding the legislation was essential to their economic health.
Biden stated that he didn’t know that there were so many Socialist Republicans.
According to the White House, Minnesota will receive approximately span styling=”font-weight 400 ;”>$4.8 million over five years in federal highway funding for bridges and highways. This is 30% more than Minnesota would get if the infrastructure bill hadn’t been approved.
Separate grant programs were also funded by the highway bill for road and bridge programs. This is the money Emmer & Anoka County wanted.
CNN reported that Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-7th District) also wrote in support local projects. However, a copy could not immediately be obtained.
Only 13 House Republicans supported the infrastructure bill that was passed last year, none of them from Minnesota. Six Democrats, including Rep. Ilhan Omara, D-5th, voted against it. On Friday, the GOP’s calls for assistance from a bill that they didn’t support immediately became a campaign issue.
A blast email release from the Democratic National Committee stated that “in a shocking new low, dozens… of congressional Republicans who publicly opposed President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Act are now asking for infrastructure funds they voted AGAINST.”
The DNC stated that Emmer, “ who is supposedly responsible for electing Republicans to Congress — had the nerve and call the bill a “socialist wishlist” before applying for grant funding to build a highway in his District.
Emmer, the head of National Republican Congressional Committee is highly favored to win reelection. Buttigieg did not help some other Republican House members, who requested assistance.
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