WASHINGTON —
Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas) final yr left little doubt why she was voting in opposition to a $1-trillion bipartisan infrastructure measure, calling it nothing greater than a “socialist plan filled with crushing taxes and radical spending.”
But, when the U.S. Military Corps of Engineers introduced on Wednesday that exact same infrastructure invoice could be funding a $403-million flood management undertaking in her district within the Fort Price space, Granger wasted no time in hailing the hassle.
“This can be a nice day for Fort Price,” she mentioned in a press release. She didn't point out the place the Military Corps was getting the cash however thanked the company for its “onerous work and tireless dedication” to creating her group safer.
Granger is just not the one Republican cheering on tasks generated by a invoice that she voted to kill. In current days, at the very least 4 different Republican members of Congress have praised initiatives made attainable by the infrastructure regulation they opposed. Political analysts say they don't seem to be more likely to be the final.
“Infrastructure stays a comparatively nonpartisan challenge, so though these lawmakers could haven't voted for the invoice, they nonetheless must reply to their constituents, and so they wish to align themselves with issues which might be widespread,” mentioned Cynthia Peacock, a professor of political communications on the College of Alabama.
The regulation, which handed Congress in November, drew bipartisan assist. Nineteen Senate Republicans, together with Minority Chief Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, voted with Democrats to approve the invoice. Within the Home of Representatives, solely 13 Republicans supported it.
The White Home and the measure’s backers say it's going to create 1000's of jobs, tackle a backlog of uncared for infrastructure tasks and create an electrical automobile charging community throughout the nation.
Home Minority Chief Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) fought the laws, as did former President Trump. They inspired Republican lawmakers to dam the invoice, insisting it was dangerous coverage and inextricably linked to a bigger Democratic social spending package deal, an initiative that has stalled within the Senate.
If Democrats “introduced simply an infrastructure invoice by itself up, you'd discover, overwhelmingly, Republicans wish to work with you and get one by means of,” McCarthy mentioned in October. “However what they wish to do is restructure and rework America.”
Democrats and Republicans who supported the measure are anticipated to advertise its advantages on the marketing campaign path forward of the midterm elections. That has put Republicans who voted in opposition to the package deal — and its widespread elements — in a bind, particularly as the federal government is predicted to announce extra tasks in coming months.
Among the many Republicans who bashed the regulation however are taking credit score for its initiatives in current weeks are two lawmakers representing Louisiana: Rep. Steve Scalise, the Home minority whip, and Rep. Clay Higgins, whose district spans the southern a part of the Bayou State.
Scalise, in a information launch, highlighted $400 million in initiatives (made attainable by the regulation) that mitigate flooding.
Higgins equally applauded greater than $190 million in funding for waterway tasks in his district.
In a press release final week, Higgins was upfront about his opposition to “the infrastructure invoice in its totality primarily based on unwavering precept,” although he admitted “there are specific parts inside the invoice that my workplace absolutely helps.”
A spokeswoman for Scalise mentioned in a press release that the congressman has lengthy promoted funding for tasks in his district.
“It’s unlucky that Democrats determined to play politics with infrastructure,” the assertion mentioned, “and as an alternative loaded their invoice with unrelated liberal agenda objects.”
Granger, the Texas Republican who counseled the Military Corps of Engineers for addressing flooding issues, defended her vote in opposition to the laws, saying she “wasn’t in opposition to this undertaking.”
“I used to be in opposition to among the different elements of that invoice,” Granger mentioned in a Thursday information convention.
A consultant for Granger didn't return emails looking for remark.
Douglas Heye, a former spokesman for the Republican Nationwide Committee, mentioned it's common for lawmakers to oppose payments more likely to move even when it funds much-needed tasks of their districts.
Lawmakers “could wish to vote in opposition to the broader invoice they suppose is simply too large regardless of supporting particular tasks that profit their districts,” Heye mentioned.
Such tap-dancing has generated criticism.
When Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) tweeted that she had helped safe thousands and thousands in funding to improve dams alongside the Mississippi River, she rapidly discovered herself within the social media crosshairs of Democrats.
“Inform the reality @RepAshleyHinson — you didn’t vote for this invoice. You voted for a dam collapse. In the event you had your means your neighbors could be underwater,” Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) tweeted. “Fortunately, @HouseDemocrats handed this invoice and we did your dam job. Give me a break.”
Swalwell mentioned in an interview that it was irritating to look at Hinson and different Republicans “present up and take credit score” as funding is doled out.
“In the event that they had been within the majority, the invoice wouldn’t have handed,” he mentioned.
A Hinson spokeswoman mentioned in a press release that the lawmaker opposed the infrastructure package deal as a result of it had been tied to the social spending plan.
“Because the invoice was signed into regulation,” the assertion mentioned, “this cash was going to be spent regardless.”
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