Infrastructure push slowed by Tennessee senator's objection

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Infrastructure push slowed by Tennessee senator’s objection

By BRIAN SLODYSKO
August 9, 2021

WASHINGTON (AP) — One by one, Democrats and Republicans trekked to the Senate floor on Sunday touting a $1 trillion infrastructure proposal and argued that, after months of haggling, it was time for a final vote on the measure.

Standing in their way: Republican Sen. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee.

The freshman senator spent the weekend using a procedural maneuver to essentially grind the chamber to a halt. A final vote that could have happened days ago could now linger into the early hours of Tuesday morning, forcing lawmakers to give up their second consecutive summer weekend to plod through the minutia of Senate rules.

More than a dozen Republicans have joined Democrats to clear initial hurdles on the infrastructure bill, meaning the legislation will almost certainly pass despite Hagerty’s protest. But the effort could raise the profile of a one-time Trump administration official eager to align himself with the former president, who has stepped up efforts to derail the package.

“I think he’s doing Trump’s bidding. I don’t think there’s any doubt about it,” Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., one of the lead negotiators of the package, said in an interview. “I think they want to try to draw this out as long as they possibly can and hope and pray that Congress fails.”

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/business-tennessee-election-2020-campaign-2016-1ced7b032ff6a7646cd36e314a0e0aa2

[TreasonousBastard]

1. There are legitimate questions abut the bill, as there are in all large bills, but it is...

a cardinal sin to block it just for the sake of blocking it.

[TheBlackAdder]

2. I'm sick of how the biggest MOOCHER states are the ones who always fuck over the country.

[True Blue American]

3. Haggerty is trying to get his 15 minutes. Bill now scheduled

For a Tuesday vote.

Mich came out in his tan suit to complain. Then here comes Bernie!

God fordid we help ordinary folks instead of the lobbyist, Drug companies and 1% you accept money from!”

You will see this speech over and over. Bernie really went after Mitch for doing nothing.

Now, here comes Sherrod!

[Bettie]

4. I predict that zero Republicans will vote for ANY infrastructure bill

they could take it down to 50 bucks and they'd say "too much".

[Johnny2X2X]

6. You're wrong

18 have already voted to move forward on it, and it will get more than that tomorrow for it's final vote. Mitch himself is a yes vote. It;s going to pass by about 73-27.

[Bettie]

7. I'll believe it when it actually happens

the football has been yanked away far too many times for me to believe anything any of them say.

If it happens, great.

[Johnny2X2X]

10. It has passed

66-25 with 9 votes left.

[Johnny2X2X]

11. It has passed

66-25 with 9 votes left.

[Bettie]

12. And I am surprised

shocked really.

They usually don't cooperate at all.

[Johnny2X2X]

13. Mitch McConnell voted for it

When he came out in support a while back, it was a done deal, this is really an amazing bill, $1.2 Trillion with $550 Billion in new spending. Passed 69-30.

In normal presidencies this would be the centerpiece a candidate could run on for 4 years. But this is Joe Biden, this infrastructure deal is awesome, but the $3.5 Trillion Budget Bill which the Senate just voted to proceed to debate on is just all of the Democratic priorities going back decades from a spending perspective rolled into one. This Budget Bill will rebuild the middle class and reshape America.

Biden is getting more done than anyone though possible.

[BradAllison]

5. I'm glad Tester calls it as it is about Rump's bidding.

Manchin would say he has "legitimate concerns we need to respect!!!!"

[Tanuki]

8. Hagerty isn't exactly shying away from being a Trump sycophant

Link to tweet

[bluestarone]

9. Gotta believe THIS was their plan all along

SLOW it down! THEY are in no hurry to HELP our COUNTRY!