Late Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill by a 228-206 margin, which was approved by the U.S. Senate 88 days ago.
The final tally included 13 Republican lawmakers, who crossed the aisle to vote with Democrats.
Among those opposing the legislation was U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover).
In a statement released after the vote on Friday, Palmer criticized the bill and warned “billions of dollars” were being wasted on so-called Green New Deal programs.
“Democrats have been in disarray and arguing amongst themselves for weeks over the specifics of these bills. The fundamental problems with both bills haven’t changed,” Palmer said. “Our economy is struggling, and our national debt already presents a serious national security threat, but the Democrats have shown they are willing to recklessly push through a bill that costs over a trillion dollars with only about 10 percent going to roads and bridges. I fully support funding for infrastructure that is focused on national priorities rather than wasting hundreds of billions of dollars on a Green New Deal wish list and programs under the guise of human infrastructure that simply expand government control of our lives.”
However, in what Palmer described as a “silver lining,” funding for the long-anticipated Birmingham Northern Beltline was included in the package.
“At least there is a silver lining in that the bill includes legislation which I introduced with Rep. David Trone (D-MD) that includes funding for the Birmingham Northern Beltline,” he added.
According to reports, the Northern Beltline project initially broke ground in 2014 and is scheduled for completion in 2054.
@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Alabama, the editor of Breitbart TV, a columnist for Mobile’s Lagniappe Weekly, and host of Mobile’s “The Jeff Poor Show” from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on FM Talk 106.5.
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