Turner: Biden using infrastructure as guise to advance partisan agenda

Following the recent announcement of President Joe Biden’s $2.3 trillion infrastructure package, which allocates less than 6 percent of its funding to roads and bridges, U.S. Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) on April 13 sponsored a resolution to increase that cap.

Rep. Turner on Tuesday sponsored the No Irresponsible Recovery or Reinvestment Expenditures Supporting Priorities Outside Necessary Surface Infrastructure Built Legitimately and Expediently Spending Act, or the No IRRESPONSIBLE Spending Act, House Resolution (H.Res.) 309. The legislation would require significant infrastructure bills and joint resolutions to provide at least 50 percent of funding to programs, initiatives, or projects that directly impact construction or maintenance of highways, roads, bridges, dams, passenger and freight railways, airports, waterways and ports, public schools, and their safety. 

H.Res. 309 would require that any legislation providing such funds in excess of $100 billion would have to comply with this rule, according to text of the resolution.

“President Biden and Speaker Pelosi’s $2.3 trillion ‘infrastructure’ package allocates less than 6 percent of its funding to roads and bridges but commits $600 billion to the Green New Deal,” Rep. Turner said. “As Americans await needed investments in their communities, using the guise of infrastructure to advance a partisan agenda is disingenuous and wrong.”

Currently, the Biden administration’s proposed $2.3 trillion American Jobs Plan includes priorities unrelated to infrastructure, according to Rep. Turner’s office, including $10 billion for a new Civilian Climate Corps to advance environmental justice; $213 billion for housing and to increase federal control of local housing markets; and $400 billion to expand Medicaid. Less than 5 percent of the package goes to broadband while less than 2 percent would fund waterways, locks, dams, ports, and airports.

“The No IRRESPONSIBLE Spending Act,” said Rep. Turner, “would stop ridiculous attempts to redefine infrastructure by responsibly prioritizing investments into our bridges, highways, waterways, and schools.”

The congressman also pointed out that “President Biden and Speaker Pelosi should make true on their promise of bipartisanship and get serious about legislation that will tangibly address the infrastructure needs of our communities.” 

H.Res. 309 has been referred to the U.S. House Rules Committee for consideration.