On Monday, Democrats celebrated as President Joe Biden signed the first part of his infrastructure agenda into law—the culmination of months of negotiations and wrangling in Congress.
As the White House continues to note, the bill passed on a bipartisan basis, with 19 Republican Senators and 13 Republican Representatives voting in favor of the legislation.
The bill will allocate hundreds of billions of dollars to promote electric cars, replace lead pipes, and invigorate cities across the nation with funding boosts to repair their roads and bridges. In some states, it's already making a difference. For instance, Democratic New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that there would be no fare hikes for the New York subway thanks to the $11 billion allocated for the Manhattan Transit Authority in the infrastructure bill.
So it's no wonder that many members of Congress are rushing to tout their "Yes" votes to their constituents—but one lawmaker is getting blowback for taking credit without having supported the bill.
Republican Congressman Gary Palmer boasted on Twitter that funding for the Birmingham Northern Beltline—a 52 mile planned interstate in his district—had passed.
Completion of Birmingham's Northern Beltline has been a priority of mine since I was elected to Congress, and new funding for the project has now passed. See my full statement here:https://palmer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/palmer-new-funding-birminghams-northern-beltline\u00a0\u2026— Gary Palmer (@Gary Palmer) 1637013743
There are two things Palmer failed to mention. Not only was it the bipartisan infrastructure bill that provided the funding Palmer said was a "priority" ($369 million to be exact), but Palmer voted against the bill altogether.
People didn't hesitate to point this out.
You voted against it. You don\u2019t get to claim credit for it now.https://twitter.com/usrepgarypalmer/status/1460367601700421644\u00a0\u2026— Kevin M. Kruse (@Kevin M. Kruse) 1637106902
Voted against the bill he is now taking credit forhttps://twitter.com/USRepGaryPalmer/status/1460367601700421644\u00a0\u2026— Joyce Alene (@Joyce Alene) 1637119365
"priority of mine"\n\n"funding for the project has been passed"\n\nthe Republican Congressman who sent this tweet voted no on funding the projects in the infrastructure billhttps://twitter.com/USRepGaryPalmer/status/1460367601700421644\u00a0\u2026— John Harwood (@John Harwood) 1637105851
You mean the funding you voted against? That funding? #DemocratsDeliverhttps://twitter.com/USRepGaryPalmer/status/1460367601700421644\u00a0\u2026— Eric Swalwell (@Eric Swalwell) 1637106133
\u201cNew funding for the project\u201d -also known as President Biden\u2019s infrastructure bill that you voted against. No shame at all.https://twitter.com/usrepgarypalmer/status/1460367601700421644\u00a0\u2026— Sherrilyn Ifill (@Sherrilyn Ifill) 1637108982
He voted against the bill. \n\nDon\u2019t give him the victory lap.https://twitter.com/usrepgarypalmer/status/1460367601700421644\u00a0\u2026— Angry Staffer (@Angry Staffer) 1637112451
But in today's divided climate, some right-wing lawmakers and voters are determined to cast away any Republican who supported the legislation.
Those 13 Republican traitors who voted to pass Biden's Socialist Infrastructure bill agree with Globalist Joe that America must depend on China to drive EV's.
The unlucky 13 are China-First and America-Last.
13 American job & energy killers ⬇️
2/2 pic.twitter.com/azoCLm1P4t
— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) November 6, 2021
Reminder:\n\nDon't just vote out the RINOs who voted for Joe Biden's infrastructure package.\n\nVote out the RINOs who voted to certify Joe Biden as president!— Jackson Lahmeyer (@Jackson Lahmeyer) 1637074801
BIDEN WILL SIGN THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL ON MONDAY\nTHE ONE THAT 13 REPUBLICANS VOTED FOR \nWHILE STANDING AGAINST US\nWE HAVE TO CLEAN OUT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY\nRINOS AND BACK STABBERS MUST GO— sasha monet (@sasha monet) 1636747381
The second part of Biden's agenda—the Build Back Better Act—is still in negotiations, but is expected to have no Republican support in the House or Senate.
