GOP Senate candidates line up with Trump in bashing bipartisan infrastructure bill

GOP senators who support the bipartisan infrastructure bill note that there are major differences between their bill and the partisan package. They say it’s critical for Republicans to show they’re not just an instinctive opposition party and instead can find consensus on pressing national issues important to voters.

“They are in the middle of a primary,” said Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina who supports the plan, referring to the GOP candidates for the Senate. “So when you’re in a campaign you don’t have time to go into a group and spend 10 minutes, 15 minutes, like I did, explaining why that makes sense, and why I thinks that could reduce the damage of the bill that (Democrats) will follow. ”

When asked if he thinks Trump influences the views of candidates, Tillis said, “I’m sure that does.”

Yet Trump’s opposition to the plan has had little influence in Senate hallways, where even GOP senators who are running for re-election – like Sense Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Todd Young of Indiana – voted to move with the bill in the initial procedural vote.

Young declined to comment on Trump’s views on the bill, declining multiple requests for comment on the matter. But Indiana’s first Republican term indicated he would likely support the bill “unless I find something really wrong – and I haven’t done it yet.”

South Dakota Senator John Thune, the Republican whip who has yet to say whether he will run for another term next year, has not ruled out supporting the bill when it is finally passed. But he had a warning for the GOP.

“I think the policy works for both sides,” Thune said. “I think if you’re a Republican you want to prove that you’re not just here to completely block and shut down the whole agenda if you find areas that are good for you know the country and then want to be part of. try to solve these problems. ”

GOP senator urges Trump to take credit for deal

“Ted is against the legislation as it currently exists,” said Budd adviser Jonathan Felts.

“Governor McCrory believes that the positive elements of the package cannot overcome the problematic aspects of the package,” said McCrory advisor Jordan Shaw.

And Walker tweeted, “The small portion of the infrastructure bill for paving the roads will be needed for our children to get to their local Bank of China branch to pay off their share of the national debt.”

But Republicans who support the bill say it is absolutely necessary to help rebuild roads, bridges, waterways and strengthen rural broadband. They note that this would not raise taxes – and is paid for by a series of measures, such as redirecting Covid relief funds.

On Wednesday night, Portman advocated for the importance of the bill to Ohio, stressing that it would ease congestion on I-75 in his state and help with many of the 44,736 bridges there.

In an interview with CNN, Portman made a suggestion to the former president.

“I encouraged President Trump to take credit for this,” Portman said. “President Trump’s efforts to raise awareness of the need for improved infrastructure should help us achieve this. He has proposed a $ 1.5 trillion infrastructure bill. He’s a developer, he understands the need infrastructure. ”

But Trump has made his position clear, calling the legislation a “loser” for the United States – without explaining its rationale.

“Don’t do it, Republicans, the Patriots will never forget! If this deal goes through, many primaries will come to you!” he said in a statement.

It is not clear that many primary candidates are ready to challenge him.

None of the top Ohio GOP candidates – Mandel, a former Ohio Treasurer, former Ohio Republican Party President Jane Timken, Hillbilly author Elegy JD Vance and businessmen Bernie Moreno and Mike Gibbons – does not support the deal.

“I would support targeted infrastructure spending that meets the real needs of roads, bridges and broadband for Ohioans that don’t raise taxes or add to the inflated federal deficit, but unfortunately this bill in its current form doesn’t, “Timken said in a statement.

Ohio Representative Tim Ryan, Senate candidate, told CNN he “has long advocated for rebuilding crumbling roads and bridges, cleaning up waterways, removing dangerous lead pipes , growing our national electric vehicle industry, maintaining strong protections against American purchases and current wages, and finally repairing the Brent Spence Bridge in Cincinnati. “

“While there are a lot of things Democrats and Republicans disagree on, rebuilding our country’s infrastructure is one where we can and must work together,” he said. added.

Sen. Roy Blunt, a Republican from Missouri retiring next year, voted to move the bill forward in the first procedural vote and may support it when it is finally passed. He said it’s easy to mix a traditional infrastructure bill with the larger set of Social Democratic agendas.

“I think there are two sides to it and two sides of how to explain it,” Blunt said. “And there is some concern that it merges with the bigger bill which is really a new type of government program bill, as opposed to the government doing more of what governments always have. do.”

But at least two senior Republicans running for Blunt’s seat – state attorney general Eric Schmitt and former governor Eric Greitens – are opposing the bill. Schmitt called the bill “a reckless spending envelope that will only add to our growing national debt as Americans face record inflation.”

And Greitens told CNN: “It is disappointing that some weak RINOs have given in completely to Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats who want to pass irresponsible socialist legislation that puts the future of all Americans in jeopardy.”