Republican lawmakers are celebrating the Senate congressman’s decision to withdraw from the coronavirus aid package a $ 100 million extension of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system outside San Francisco.
Republican Party lawmakers are also promoting the removal of $ 1.5 million for the Seaway International Bridge, which connects New York to Ontario and has historically been one of the busiest border crossing points between New York and Canada.
Republicans characterized targeted spending items as favorite projects for the speaker Nancy Pelosi
Nancy PelosiBiden Coronavirus Relief Bill Tests Narrow Democratic Majority Some Republicans say proxy voting gives Democrats an advantage Optimistic armed violence prevention groups Legislation can pass this Congress MORE (D-California) and Senate majority leader Charles Schumer
Chuck Schumer Does Biden stumble in China? First black Senate secretary installed Republican candidate for Ohio Senate asks Republican Party representative to resign because of impeachment vote MORE (DN.Y.), describing them as prime examples of useless wish list priorities in the $ 1.9 trillion package.
“We saw the swamp return to Washington: $ 100 million through a tunnel in Silicon Valley outside the district of Palestinian Pelosi or a bridge to Schumer,” a minority leader in the House Kevin McCarthy
Kevin McCarthySome Republicans say the proxy vote gives Democrats an edge Wray says there is no evidence of ‘antifa’ involvement in the January 6 attack. Republican tears up Republican lawmakers by proxy vote of CPAC MAIS (R-Calif.) I said last week.
A Senate source, however, said Schumer was unaware that funding for the bridge was included in the bill until he read about it in the media.
Sen. Chuck Grassley
Chuck GrassleyFBI director faces legislator frustration with Capitol violation Padilla has’ big Chuck Taylors to fill ‘to replace Harris’ Judiciary Committee gives Garland’s green light to AG’s nomination (R-Iowa) on Wednesday praised the congressman’s decision against California’s public transport bill as an expensive victory.
“Parliamentary rules against marking the Pelosi tunnel It is a small victory, much more $$$ even in the bill not related to COVID, but for the sake of common sense, the Silicon Valley tunnel should be out bc what this new hv pilot project to make a pandemic !! Grassley tweeted.
Parliamentary rules against marking the Pelosi tunnel It is a small victory that much more $$$ still in the bill not related to COVID, but for the sake of common sense the Silicon Valley tunnel should be out bc what this new hv pilot project to make a pandemic! !
– ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) March 3, 2021
Republican Senate Whip John Thune
John Randolph ThuneSenate GOP Whip: Murkowski’s vote in Tanden is ‘fluid’ as the GOP says Ron Klain pulling Biden’s strings Rick Scott acknowledges that Biden ‘absolutely’ won a fair election MORE (RS.D.) said the California bill “eliminated Byrd”, referring to the Senate’s Byrd rule, which limits what can be protected from an obstruction in the Senate floor by special budget rules.
Drew Hammill, a spokesman for Pelosi, confirmed on Tuesday that both projects had been removed and argued that Republicans now have little reason to oppose the popular aid package.
Hammill noted that the pandemic “had an immediate and overwhelming effect on all of our transportation systems” and that the Chamber included $ 1.425 billion “to help dozens of major transit capital projects”.
The senior Democratic aide characterized the bridge money as a project that would have mainly helped the Republican representative. Elise Stefanik
Elise Marie StefanikCuomo asks New York AG to appoint independent lawyer to investigate allegations of sexual harassment Psaki: Cuomo must face ‘independent review’ of allegations of sexual harassment NY billboard calls for impeachment of Cuomo amid controversy MOREhome district of (NY).
“The Senate congressman decided that the extension of the BART from San Jose to Santa Clara does not meet the requirements of the Byrd rule because it is part of a pilot project. Therefore, it will be removed from the reconciliation package, ”said the advisor.
“The $ 1.5 million funding for Seaway International Bridge in the Rep. Stefanik district has also been removed,” he added. “Now that the two projects that Republicans have deceived the public about in the House bill have been removed, it is not clear how Republicans will justify their opposition to the American Rescue Plan, which has strong bipartisan support among the public.”
A Senate source said that the drafters of the relief bill withdrew funding for Seaway International Bridge originally requested by the Trump administration because Stefanik, a staunch supporter of Trump, refused to defend its inclusion in the legislation.
The loss of federal funding may impact the bridge’s future operation, which suffered a massive loss of traffic and revenue during the pandemic because of the closure of the US-Canada border. Maintenance and toll revenue dropped by up to $ 170,000 per month due to travel restrictions.
Karoline Leavitt, a spokesman for Stefanik, said his boss made deliveries to his district in other ways.
“During her last term in Congress, Representative Stefanik gave over $ 75 million in federal grants to St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, including $ 6 million for the Seaway International Bridge that she delivered with the former DOT secretary Elaine Chao
Elaine ChaoThe Hill’s Morning Report – Biden on COVID-19: Next year, Americans will be ‘better’ Buttigieg sets targets for electric and automated cargo vehicles Ben Carson launches a conservative think tank MORE,” she said.
“Congresswoman Stefanik also continues to strongly advocate a safe reopening of the US-Canada border, which, consequently, would support the bridge,” she said.