'Hypocritical behavior the public hates': Dems push new plan to whack 'do-nothing' GOP

The campaign arm for House Democrats hit back at Republicans who are taking credit for infrastructure funding they voted against.

Congress approved $1.2 trillion in infrastructure funding three years ago to help recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, although only 13 House GOP lawmakers backed the law – in the face of attacks by Donald Trump – to fund roads, rails and bridges.

Despite this, Republicans who voted against the bill are showing up at opening ceremonies and praising local leaders, reported Politico.

“Since House Republicans have no record of accomplishments, they are trying to falsely take credit for ones that aren’t theirs,” said Viet Shelton, a spokesperson for House Democrats’ campaign arm. “This is exactly the sort of hypocritical behavior that the public hates, and the DCCC will be sure to remind voters of Republicans’ do-nothing agenda between now and November.”

Democrats worried two years ago that voters wouldn't care about the legislative accomplishment since most of the projects getting funded were years away from breaking ground, but now they're angry at GOP members trying to claim credit for the achievement despite their opposition.

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“We all agree that the country is in a dire need of a clean transportation bill that addresses failing infrastructure," said Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), who attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a highway project funded by the bill in her district, which got $470 million from the package. "The bill would have had large bipartisan support had Republicans been allowed to be engaged in the process and if it was not vastly overloaded with pet projects."

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) called the package a "socialist wish list" before voting against it, but she recently celebrated the announcement of nearly $26 million in federal grants for a public transit project in her district, and other GOP members have also hailed money from a bill they opposed.

Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) praised the $1.1 billion in funding that would keep the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant open in his district, saying it was “lowering costs, creating jobs, and strengthening our national security," although he voted against the measure in 2021.

Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA) had backed the dredging of Newport Harbor when she served on the Orange County Board of Supervisors and celebrated $8.3 million in funds for the project, and she name checked the infrastructure bill in a statement celebrating the "long overdue" work, but she voted against the measure as a member of Congress.