Last year, President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats secured passage of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the bipartisan infrastructure bill—one facet of the administration's ambitious infrastructure and spending proposal.
Though the bill was passed with the support of 19 Republican Senators and 13 Republican Representatives, the vast majority of Republican lawmakers slammed the historic investment as a socialist takeover rife with reckless spending.
Among those Republicans was Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Iowa, who said in a statement at the time of the bill's passage:
"The need to make meaningful investments in our nation’s real infrastructure—roads and bridges, locks and dams, and broadband—was sacrificed to advance a partisan, socialist spending spree."
She also said the bill was a "raw deal for Iowans" that represented "spending at its worst."
Now that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has earmarked nearly a billion dollars for the modernization of locks and dams on the upper Mississippi River, the Congresswoman is singing a much different tune.
In a joint statement celebrating the development, Hinson took credit for the funding she voted against, writing:
“The lock and dam system along the Upper Mississippi River is critical to Iowa’s agriculture economy and our country’s entire supply chain — this landmark investment will be game-changing for Iowans and communities along the Mississippi River like Dubuque. Over 60 percent of our nation’s grain exports travel through this lock and dam system, and it is a massive economic engine for the entire state. That’s why I helped lead a bipartisan group of my colleagues in urging the Administration to prioritize funding for these essential upgrades. I’ll always fight to ensure Iowans’ taxpayer dollars are reinvested at home in Iowa.”
In a tweet, Hinson boasted that "we" secured the funding.
BREAKING: We secured $829 million in federal funding to upgrade locks & dams along the Upper Mississippi River. This is game-changing for Iowa’s agriculture industry & our Mississippi River communities! https://t.co/4rql7Y8oft
— Ashley Hinson (@RepAshleyHinson) January 19, 2022
But social media users had already seen the receipts.
Tell the truth @RepAshleyHinson — you didn’t vote for this bill. You voted for a dam collapse. If you had your way your neighbors would be underwater. Thankfully, @HouseDemocrats passed this bill and we did your dam job. Give me a break. https://t.co/XKT3SyJ2f4
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) January 20, 2022
We…. You didn’t vote for the Infrastructure Bill so there is no “we” .
If you had prevailed Iowa would be receiving $0 for infrastructure. https://t.co/7Je6BtTvuO
— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) January 20, 2022
this you? https://t.co/rWv31nzwkL pic.twitter.com/wAhUvbY5Um
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 19, 2022
Here’s the statement where you called these funds “a partisan, socialist spending spree” and “gamesmanship at its worst” before voting against the funds you now falsely claim you “secured.” https://t.co/7ZRTpoqVNA pic.twitter.com/zLu3StARBw
— Brian Beutler (@brianbeutler) January 20, 2022
You know you're a Republican when you call something "socialist," vote against it, then take credit for it. https://t.co/bTgQPe4ixc
— Peter Daou (@peterdaou) January 20, 2022
This lady voted against it and is now spewing BS about “we”. Jeez why do people support these lying politicians? I find it so crazy. Yes, you Ashley. https://t.co/mALnfUkDTZ
— Soledad O'Brien (@soledadobrien) January 20, 2022
Before long, "YOU VOTED AGAINST IT" was trending on Twitter.
Ashley Hinson is another in a long line of Republicans who take credit for infrastructure funding they voted against.
Lying, soulless people.
YOU VOTED AGAINST IT!
— Brian O'Sullivan (@osullivanauthor) January 20, 2022
You voted against it!
Next time thank President Biden Speaker Pelosi instead of being a #VoteNoAndTakeTheDough hypocrite https://t.co/vbA7MkAFrA
— Christine Pelosi (@sfpelosi) January 20, 2022
Narrator: But you voted against it! https://t.co/nNOAi1loZO
— Democratic Coalition (@TheDemCoalition) January 20, 2022
The second part of Biden's infrastructure agenda—Build Back Better—remains stalled in the Senate.
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