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Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio received a rude awakening after he attempted to blame Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigeg for the East Palestine train derailment.
The chemical spill and subsequent controlled burn from the disaster prompted residents within a 1-mile radius of the accident to be evacuated and kicked off emergency responses from teams in Ohio and West Virginia as well as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Rubio said Buttigieg “is an incompetent who is focused solely on his fantasies about his political future [and] needs to be fired," one of multiple attacks he's made against the Transportation Secretary as Republicans have sought to blame the Biden administration and its appointees for the disaster.
You can see Rubio's tweet below.
\u201cFirst @SecretaryPete was m.i.a. on the derailment \n\nThen he lies to media claiming my 2021 letter calling for more track inspections was a letter calling for deregulation\n\nHe is an incompetent who is focused solely on his fantasies about his political future & needs to be fired\u201d— Marco Rubio (@Marco Rubio) 1677010340
Not long afterward, Buttigieg responded and pointed to Rubio's 2021 letter about track inspections that was "obviously drafted by railroad industry lobbyists."
Rubio was among a group of 22 Senators who signed onto a letter requesting the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to waive testing on the grounds that the agency should allow more automation.
The letter states that "automated test systems improve the nature of railroad track inspections and can increase track safety" which is a priority of railroad industry lobbyists even though the FRA has said automated inspections should not replace physical inspections because they still fail to detect structural defects.
Buttigieg wrote:
"The facts don't lie. The 2021 letter you signed was obviously drafted by railroad industry lobbyists. It supports waivers that would reduce visual track inspections."
"Now: will you vote to help us toughen rail safety accountability and fines, or not?"
\u201cThe facts don't lie. The 2021 letter you signed was obviously drafted by railroad industry lobbyists. \n\nIt supports waivers that would reduce visual track inspections. \n\nNow: will you vote to help us toughen rail safety accountability and fines, or not?\u201d— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@Secretary Pete Buttigieg) 1677012331
Buttigieg also provided "examples of what Congress can do to help" to address the disaster, adding:
"If you're serious, I'll work with you on this."
\u201cHere are some examples of what Congress can do to help (along with immediate steps we've been taking and what we demand rail companies do). If you're serious, I'll work with you on this. https://t.co/cihnMCBUJq\u201d— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@Secretary Pete Buttigieg) 1677012331
Many have criticized Rubio and Republicans after Buttigieg came forward with the receipts.
\u201c@SecretaryPete "It supports waivers that would reduce visual track inspections."\n\nCheap Tricks by GOP. They know what they are doing..\u201d— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@Secretary Pete Buttigieg) 1677012331
\u201c@SecretaryPete Fire Rubio - he does nothing for our independents - just corporations.\u201d— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@Secretary Pete Buttigieg) 1677012331
\u201c@SecretaryPete Pete is right. Republicans will always accept donations for deregulation on safety.\u201d— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@Secretary Pete Buttigieg) 1677012331
\u201c@SecretaryPete He won\u2019t. @marcorubio is a coward and a gaslighting liar. He will do what is best for him and the corporations that have him in their pockets.\u201d— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@Secretary Pete Buttigieg) 1677012331
\u201c@SecretaryPete And this is one of a thousand reasons why nobody does it better. Call it out, Pete.\u201d— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@Secretary Pete Buttigieg) 1677012331
\u201c@SecretaryPete We all know he will be a a NO or anything that will be good for this country.\u201d— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@Secretary Pete Buttigieg) 1677012331
\u201c@SecretaryPete @TnxRodgers Call out Republicans lies! They did this along with Gov DeWhine. He shouldn\u2019t be getting a pass.\u201d— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@Secretary Pete Buttigieg) 1677012331
Republicans have piled on Buttigieg for the train derailment much in the same way they've blamed him as the aviation industry contends with the fallout from recent systemic failures that left travelers stranded and contributed to a crisis of confidence nationwide.
In December, Buttigieg hit back at criticisms after Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee raised questions about his whereabouts in the wake of winter storms that wreaked havoc across the country and caused Southwest Airlines to cancel thousands of flights.
Southwest's string of cancelations opened the company up to federal scrutiny. House Republicans were quick to cast blame on Buttigieg for the crisis that disrupted holiday plans for hundreds of thousands of travelers nationwide.