OPINION: This article contains commentary which reflects the author’s opinion
As Republicans and Democrats raced to approve the Joe Biden infrastructure plan for $1.2 trillion they had to work on some key issues.
Eventually they did agree to move the bill forward on Wednesday with a vote of 67-32, that had 17 Republicans joining all 50 Democrats.
But conservative author and commentator Dinesh D’Souza said that the bill would also help the major reconciliation bill Democrats are working on that would remake the United States, Fox News reported.
“Well it does that because the way the Democrats operate is they will convert a small victory into a bigger victory. It will give them the kind of momentum they say, ‘OK well we got the first thing done, now we need to get to second base and the third base and finally to the home run,’” he said on “The Ingraham Angle” with host Laura Ingraham.
“So Republicans need to do block and tackle. Biden has a narrow window, it’s about a year before the midterms kind of kick in seriously, and so everything that we can do to block and tackle them in the meantime, that’s obviously the smart play for Republicans. But it’s not the smart play for these guys because in some ways they are the useful idiots of the Biden administration,” he said.
Donald Trump warned that passing the bill would be a victory for Joe Biden and his administration in an email to his supporters.
“Hard to believe our Senate Republicans are dealing with the Radical Left Democrats in making a so-called bipartisan bill on “infrastructure,” with our negotiators headed up by SUPER RINO Mitt Romney. This will be a victory for the Biden Administration and Democrats, and will be heavily used in the 2022 election. It is a loser for the USA, a terrible deal, and makes the Republicans look weak, foolish, and dumb. It shouldn’t be done. It sets an easy glidepath for Dems to then get beyond what anyone thought was possible in future legislation. It will be a continued destruction of our Country. Our Borders are horrible, crime is at an all time high, taxes and inflation are going way up, the economy is going way down, and now this. Don’t do it Republicans—Patriots will never forget! If this deal happens, lots of primaries will be coming your way!” he said.
But Democrat Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema hit the Democrats with a monkey wrench that could stop the reconciliation plan.
With the Senate currently tied at 50-50, Democrats are attempting to ram through the $3.5 trillion infrastructure bill through budget reconciliation, which would allow them to avoid the 60-vote threshold to hold a debate in the Senate.
Sinema voted in favor of advancing debate on the bill but has made it quite clear she does not and will not support voting for the $3.5 trillion measure.
“I have also made clear that while I will support beginning this process, I do not support a bill that costs $3.5 trillion — and in the coming months, I will work in good faith to develop this legislation with my colleagues and the administration to strengthen Arizona’s economy and help Arizona’s everyday families get ahead,” Sinema said in a written statement.
Sinema’s comments on the overall budget bill strongly suggest that Democrats won’t even be able to get 50 votes to pass their more expansive plan, which is the $3.5 trillion measure.
It didn’t take long for members of the socialist “Squad” to attack Sinema on Twitter.
New York Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted: “Good luck tanking your own party’s investment on childcare, climate action, and infrastructure while presuming you’ll survive a 3 vote House margin.”
Good luck tanking your own party’s investment on childcare, climate action, and infrastructure while presuming you’ll survive a 3 vote House margin – especially after choosing to exclude members of color from negotiations and calling that a “bipartisan accomplishment.” 👍🏽👍🏽 https://t.co/0VF8Z73vAa
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 28, 2021
Sinema seems not to care that her own state is flooding, the west is burning, and infrastructure around the country is crumbling. Sinema is more interested in gaining GOP friends and blocking much needed resources, than fighting for her residents’ future. https://t.co/TfSc0uoY1j pic.twitter.com/nTFC2lizfK
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) July 28, 2021
“Sinema seems not to care that her own state is flooding, the west is burning, and infrastructure around the country is crumbling. Sinema is more interested in gaining GOP friends and blocking much-needed resources, than fighting for her residents’ future,” Michigan Democrat Rep. Rashida Tlaib wrote on Twitter.