Calling the recently passed infrastructure bill a “rip-off” of the American people, former President Trump slammed President Biden’s spending agenda as the “Green New Deal Bill.”
Trump warned that Americans would face tax increases and Democrats would lose dozens of House seats in the 2022 midterm elections.
The former president recently discussed Biden’s “Build Back Better” plan and the infrastructure package. According to Trump, “It is hard to believe they won’t do it, but I think if they do it, it’s going to cost [Biden] a lot in the election.
“Because the people don’t want it. It is a rip-off for America. It is a big tax increase.”
He further criticized the infrastructure bill explaining, “It is not an infrastructure bill,” emphasizing that most of the legislation is focused on other spending items, not infrastructure. “It is a Green New Deal bill.”
Trump compared Biden’s spending agenda combining green environmental issues including climate change and incorporating President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal with more modern ideas, including resource efficiency and renewable energy.
The bill was promoted by progressive Democrat lawmakers, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, in 2019.
Midterm gains ahead
As the bill’s passage hung in the balance, President Biden personally called holdouts, including the “Squad” of several female progressive lawmakers, including Ocasio-Cortez, to convince them to vote for the bill.
Trump believes the bill’s passage will benefit Republicans in the 2022 midterm elections. “If they vote on the bill, I think we’ll pick up an extra 30 seats. Because people don’t want a tax increase, and they don’t want a Green New Deal, and that’s what this is.”
Democrats in the House had expected to have enough votes for both the massive reconciliation spending bill and the infrastructure bill. President Biden’s social spending package is now cut back to $1.75 trillion instead of the previous $3.5 trillion price tag.
The bill was made leaner after moderates and progressives agreed to cut some funding and programs, including universal community college.
Thirteen moderate Republicans voted in favor of the bill, including Don Bacon of Nebraska, Adam Kinziger of Illinois, Tom Reed from New York, Nicole Malliotakis of New York, Don Young of Alaska, Andrew Garbarino from New York, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Fred Upton of Michigan, Anthony Gonzalez from Ohio, David McKinley of West Virginia, John Katko of New York, Chris Smith from New Jersey, and Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey.
