IN THE BATTLEGROUNDS: Wall-To-Wall Coverage of Senate Democrats’ Infrastructure Plan — and GOP Opposition

Voters in key Senate battleground states are reading and watching wall-to-wall coverage of how Democrats delivered for their constituents by passing a bipartisan bill that will create millions of good-paying American jobs and invest in America’s roads, bridges, clean drinking water, and high-speed internet — and how Republican Senate candidates opposed the plan. 

See for yourself:  

AZ – Arizona Republic (Opinion): Sinema and Kelly helped the Senate act before a crisis. Why that matters

• I’m encouraged by the bipartisan leadership that Arizona’s U.S. Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly are demonstrating in their support and leadership on the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

• On Tuesday, they joined with all their fellow Democrats and 19 Republicans in the United States Senate to pass the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package.

• No effort is more worthy of bipartisan support than fixing our nation’s roads, rail and bridges, expanding internet access in rural areas, and investing in electric vehicle support to help mitigate the impacts of climate change.

• In fact, most Americans agree. Nearly three quarters of Americans polled support the bipartisan infrastructure package. 

AZ – KTAR: Here’s what Arizona would be allocated under infrastructure plan

• In a vital step forward Tuesday, the Senate approved a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan that will allocate plenty of money to Arizona.

• The plan will provide funds to rebuild roads and bridges, and also to shore up coastlines against climate change, protect public utility systems from cyberattacks and modernize the electric grid. 

FL – Tampa Bay Times (Editorial): Senate infrastructure plan a boost for Florida

• It was too bad, but entirely predictable, that Florida’s two senators could not hoist themselves from the partisan sideline to do what was best for the Sunshine State.

• Whether they are road-testing a talking point for reelection or as they mull a presidential run in 2024, Rubio and Scott failed to promote the economic interests of the Sunshine State.

FL – WLRN: Florida Senators Voted Against Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. But What Would It Bring To The State?

• Both Republican senators from Florida, Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, voted against the measure.

• The bill…would pump billions of dollars of infrastructure dollars into the state. 

• An estimated $13 billion would go towards Florida highway projects, $2.6 billion would go towards public transportation projects, $198 million towards expanding a network of electric vehicle charging stations across the state and $100 million would be put towards expanding broadband access, mostly in rural areas of the state. 

FL – WFTX

“Despite the promise of millions of jobs and better communities––including in Florida––Florida’s two senators Republicans Rick Scott and Marco Rubio voted against the infrastructure bill.”

GA – Atlanta Journal Constitution: The Jolt: GOP to Senate after road, airport, and lead pipe bill: ‘RINOs!’

• Trump’s stance against the bill was echoed by key Georgia Republicans, despite funds in the bill for everything from upgrades to dozens of local Georgia airports to replacing lead pipes in schools, expanding public transportation and installing electric vehicle charging stations in the state.

• The three leading Republican contenders for U.S. Senate each opposed the infrastructure plan.

GA – Atlanta Journal Constitution: ‘No and no.’ Why Georgia GOP Senate contenders oppose infrastructure, budget plans

• The agriculture commissioner wasn’t alone in his opposition to measures that could top $4.5 trillion. The other two GOP Senate contenders, Kelvin King and Latham Saddler, also flatly rejected the proposals to restructure the U.S. economy.

• Dan Gottlieb of the state Democratic Party said the Republicans are lining up against “millions of good-paying jobs” that will help Georgians compete in the global economy.

• “While Senator Reverend Warnock helps deliver this huge win for Georgia, every GOP candidate vying to challenge him is opposing the bipartisan plan to rebuild our infrastructure, invest in a generation of Georgia jobs and help American companies compete against China,” he said. 

GA – Capitol Beat News Service: US Senate approves infrastructure bill with more than $11B headed to Georgia

• The U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan infrastructure spending bill Tuesday that would steer more than $11 billion toward highways, transit, airports and electric vehicle charging stations in Georgia.
  

NC – Spectrum News One

“It’s a big investment for the state and one that mayors across the state have been pushing for…that money is going towards things like roads, bridges, airports, trains, & broadband internet…the three Republican candidates looking to replace Senator Burr are all opposed to this bill.” 

NC – News & Observer: Senate passes bipartisan infrastructure deal. Here’s why Burr and Tillis voted yes.

• North Carolina would receive about $7.7 billion for roads and bridges, more than $900 million for public transit and more than $109 million for expanding its electric vehicle charging network, according to a state-by-state breakdown from the White House.

• The yes votes of Burr and Tillis put them at odds with the majority of Senate Republicans, most House Republicans, former President Donald Trump and the top three Republican candidates running to replace the retiring Burr in the Senate in 2022 — U.S. Rep. Ted Budd, former Gov. Pat McCrory and former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker.

NV – Reno Gazette Journal: Nevada set to receive $3 billion under Senate-approved bipartisan infrastructure bill

• Nevada is set to receive more than $3 billion for roads, bridges and other transportation needs under a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package approved by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday.

• Masto and Rosen, both Democrats from Nevada who supported the measure, pointed to some $3 billion in nationwide drought mitigation and wildfire management funding among the “wins” the bill will deliver to the Silver State.

• “When this bill began to develop, I worked hard to make sure it would include my legislation to combat two of the greatest crises facing our state: drought and wildfires,” Masto said.

NH – New Hampshire Union Leader: Bipartisan infrastructure bill that NH senators helped negotiate clears Senate

• A bipartisan majority in the U.S. Senate passed a massive infrastructure bill for the first time in more than a decade Tuesday.

• Hassan called the bill a “game-changer” that also would jump-start the revival of commuter rail service from Boston to Concord.

• Gov. Chris Sununu’s office did not respond Tuesday to a request for comment.

NH – WMUR: NH senators say $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill could be beneficial for Granite State economy

• The United States Senate has passed a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill. If the house agrees to it, some New Hampshire towns could see an injection of cash for some projects that have been in progress for some time.

• Other elements included in the bill are $110 billion for road and bridge repair, $65 billion to bolster the nation’s power grid and $55 billion to revitalize drinking water infrastructure.

OH – Cleveland Plain Dealer: Republican Ohio candidates bash infrastructure bill championed by the senator they want to succeed, Rob Portman

• The leading candidates in Ohio’s Republican U.S. Senate primary on Tuesday all issued statements trashing the bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure bill that Portman spent months negotiating.

• The bill will bring a one-time supplemental appropriation of $548 billion to fund everything from major highway projects, to mass transit, to Great Lakes restoration and bringing broadband internet access to areas that don’t have it.

• Polling has shown the bill to be popular with the American public, with Quinnipiac University finding last week that 65% of respondents supported it.

PA – Philadelphia Inquirer: Biden’s infrastructure bill gave us a preview of a key clash in Pa.’s 2022 Senate race. Here’s what we learned.

• Pennsylvania Republicans running for Senate were nearly universally opposed to the bipartisan bill. Democrats plan to run on its benefits.

• Though 19 GOP senators supported the $1.2 trillion plan, including their Senate leader, Mitch McConnell, the Pennsylvania Republicans campaigning to join his caucus had a nearly uniform response: They’re against it.

• “The Republican Senate field continues to demonstrate that they have no real solutions to offer voters while Democrats deliver for Pennsylvania,” said Jack Doyle, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Democratic party. 

PA – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: ​​White House: Pennsylvania would receive billions from infrastructure bill

• The bipartisan infrastructure deal advanced by Congress would deliver to Pennsylvania an additional $11.3 billion in federal highway funding, $1.6 billion for bridge replacement, and $2.8 billion for public transit over five years.

• In addition, Pennsylvania would receive at least $100 million to expand broadband coverage across the state, an amount that would provide access to at least 394,000 Pennsylvanians who currently lack service. The state would also likely receive $171 million to support the expansion of an electric vehicle charging network.

WI – WTMJ

“That money would be spent over 5 years to fix roads, bridges, add broadband internet, repair water pipes, and make other public works improvements. Senator Baldwin voted for the bill, Senator Ron Johnson voted against the spending.”

WI – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tammy Baldwin is a yes, Ron Johnson a no on infrastructure package

• Johnson declared his opposition well before the vote.

• Wisconsin would be due to receive $5.2 billion in federal highway aid and $225 million for bridge repair and replacement over five years.

WI – Spectrum News: How infrastructure bill would help Wisconsin farmers

• The $1 trillion dollar proposal would also address the digital divide, which are key issues for Wisconsin farmers.  

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