Rebuilding roads and bridges.
Expanding rural and urban broadband.
Taking out lead pipes that contaminate the water supply.
Modernizing school and Veterans Administration Buildings.
Investing in electric vehicle charging stations for clean energy electric automobiles.
Who would not be for that?
Most Republicans in Congress including the whole Arizona Delegation.
Most Democrats including all of Arizona’s Democratic Congressional Delegation are for it.
According to reporting by AZ Central’s Ronald Hansen, each Arizona House Democrat submitted funding requests for infrastructure projects in their district to be considered in the House Invest in America Act.
Some of Arizona’s Democrats supplied comments to the Hansen Piece.
Arizona Congressional District (CD) Two House Representative Ann Kirkpatrick, who submitted requests for five projects, relayed:
“I am thrilled to learn that all of the Arizona regional projects we fought for are included in the Invest in America Act. Both our rural and urban communities need and deserve these infrastructure investments; they focus on modernization, transportation access, and the environment. We know this transformational bill will create good-paying jobs, and help our roads and communities become safer.”
Arizona CD Four Representative Raul Grijalva, who submitted six projects for consideration, said:
“Southern Arizona is in dire need of the investments that will help repair our long-neglected infrastructure while providing countless good-paying jobs to those who need them,” Grijalva said in a statement. “From bridges and roads to public transportation and pedestrian pathways, I’m pleased to have secured $20 million for southern Arizona in this draft legislation. Investing in our infrastructure is a great way to creatively rebuild our communities and get people back to work, and I’ll keep fighting to get these projects past the finish line.”
CD Seven Representative Ruben Gallego, who also submitted requests for six projects, commented:
“The Highline Canal Recreational Path project in Guadalupe and the Grand Canalscape trail project in Maryvale will improve recreational opportunities for underserved areas in my district. The Flashing Yellow Arrow project in Glendale and the intersection improvements at six high-crash intersections in Phoenix — including the most dangerous intersection in the region — will improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and public transit users of all ages and abilities.”
CD One Representative and Member of the Problems Solvers Caucus Thomas O’Halleran turned in requests for nine projects. He stated:
“In Arizona’s First District, the bus drivers taking our kids to school and the hardworking moms and dads heading to work are forced to travel some of the most dangerous roads in need of repair in our county. Traversing the First District myself, I’ve seen the infrastructure needs of communities across rural Arizona left on the backburner for years. I am pleased to see that four of our projects were included in the Invest in America Act and am hopeful that all can make it across the finish line and receive full funding.”
Transportation Committee Member and CD Nine Representative Greg Stanton, like Gallego and Grijalva, had six infrastructure project requests. He relayed:
“As one of the fastest-growing states in the country, Arizona needs its fair share of federal resources to make sure our infrastructure can keep up with our population. I fought to make sure key investments were included in the infrastructure bill that will make a difference in our communities — investments to expand public transit, build and repair roads on tribal lands, and improve road safety. These projects are good for Arizonans and good for our economy.”
The projects requested include those for:
- Repairing and modernizing roads.
- Creating Electric Vehicle Charging Stations.
- Light rail and streetcar expansion.
- Canal Pathways for pedestrians.
- Bus routes and electric bus infrastructure.
What is mystifying is that these needs also exist in the areas of CD Four, Five, Six, and Eight.
Why are Republicans Debbie Lesko, Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar, and David Schweikert not fighting for infrastructure improvements in their districts?
It is not like all the roads are pristine in them?
It is not like there are no school or Veterans Administration Buildings in these districts that need modernization.
It is not like there is not a need for electric vehicle charging stations everywhere.
It is not like there is not a need for expanded rural broadband in CD Four.
It is not like the air is cleaner in their districts than in the ones the Democrats represent.
It is not like the high-paying jobs needed to build this new infrastructure would not be appealing to the local residents they are supposed to serve.
Judy Stahl, one of two Democratic candidates looking to defeat Paul Gosar in 2022, commented on the current CD Four’s refusal to submit vital infrastructure need projects for his district:
“Paul Gosar’s apathy towards the bill that would bring funds for road improvements to our state is another in a long list of ways he has abandoned his constituents. Not only do our roads need safety improvements throughout Arizona, but we could use the jobs it would bring to our rural economy too. This surface transportation bill being considered by the House of Representatives is a no-brainer for our state.
It is shameful, though unsurprising, that our Republican delegation has not lifted a finger to support it. This is why I am running against Paul Gosar, so we can have a representative in Congress who will take action when our government is considering policies that would benefit our state.”
Michael Muscato, the 2020 Democratic CD Eight Nominee, and candidate for 2022 offered this perspective on Representative Lesko:
“Debbie Lesko doesn’t read the bills. Debbie Lesko doesn’t do the work she’s paid to do. Debbie Lesko doesn’t do anything for Republicans, Democrats, or Independents. It’s time for the investment to be made to pave the way for Lesko to be transported out of office.”
When will Republicans in Arizona begin to work for the people?????
Meanwhile in Washington D.C.
In a not surprising development, the infrastructure talks between the Biden/Harris Administration and a group of Republicans led by Shelly Capito died because members of the former Party of Lincoln, after the President reduced his asking price by approximately 50 percent, preferred to raise gas and user fees on the middle and lower classes instead of agreeing to raise taxes on the wealthiest corporations and businesses that do not pay any.
In a statement by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on behalf of the Biden/Harris Administration:
“The President has spoken to a number of members of the House and Senate the past two days.
He informed Senator Capito today that the latest offer from her group did not, in his view, meet the essential needs of our country to restore our roads and bridges, prepare us for our clean energy future, and create jobs. He offered his gratitude to her for her efforts and good faith conversations but expressed his disappointment that, while he was willing to reduce his plan by more than $1 trillion, the Republican group had increased their proposed new investments by only $150 billion.
The President also spoke with Senators Sinema, Cassidy, and Manchin today. He urged them to continue their work with other Democrats and Republicans to develop a bipartisan proposal that he hopes will be more responsive to the country’s pressing infrastructure needs. The President said that he would be in contact with members of the group by phone while in Europe, and he designated his Jobs Cabinet and White House aides Steve Ricchetti, Louisa Terrell, and Brian Deese to meet with them in person to advance this effort.
From Day One, the President has been clear that he has two red lines: he will not raise taxes on Americans who make under $400,000 and he will not accept inaction as the outcome. To ensure that the American Jobs Plan moves forward on a timely basis, the President spoke with Speaker Pelosi to consult with her on efforts to move forward on a jobs package in the House this month. In the same regard, the President also spoke with Senate Majority Leader Schumer to discuss the need to commence work on the budget resolution process so that legislation to advance the President’s economic priorities and tax reform plans could move to the Senate floor in July. The President is committed to moving his economic legislation through Congress this summer, and is pursuing multiple paths to get this done.”
Despite that predictable outcome, there is still a slim chance for a bipartisan agreement.
The House Problems Solvers Caucus (with 29 Democrats and 29 Republicans) has unveiled an infrastructure project proposal totalling about $1.25 billion dollars.
According to reporting by Roll Call, It includes more funding for the Biden/Harris’s clean energy proposals but a little less for rural broadband expansion and lead water pipe replacement.
According to reporting by CNBC, the Problems Solvers Plan does not include funding for Home Care and modernizing school and Veterans Administration Buildings.
In the Senate, a group of moderate Senators (including familiar names like Kyrsten Sinema, Susan Collins, Joe Manchin, Jon Tester, Mitt Romney, Bill Cassidy, and Rob Portman) are working on a bipartisan Senate Infrastructure Plan but no details have been released.
The main drawback to both plans is there is no agreement yet on how to pay for the legislation.
This will be another opportunity for vocal moderates like Sinema and Manchin, as Elvia Diaz pointed out in her column (and this writer a couple of months ago) to prove they can get at least ten Republicans to go along with a bipartisan bill they are in favor of.
Considering their pleas to get ten Republicans in the Senate to support the January 6 Commission and the John Lewis Voting Rights Bill have fallen mostly on deaf reactionary-obstructionist ears, it is probably a long shot that Sinema, Manchin, and the other centrist members of the Democratic Senate Caucus smart enough not to go on television a lot or make a fool of themselves by stupid stunts on the upper chamber floor, can succeed here despite the adage “hope springs eternal.”
Where all of this will probably lead is the long road, with many zig zags and exits/getting on the highway again, to passing a massive budget bill including components (but not all) of the American Jobs and Families Plan in reconciliation.
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