By David Iwinski
Does anyone really believe that the massive, $1.2-trillion infrastructure spending program that just passed with the help of 19 Republican senators will actually go into the construction of infrastructure projects that benefit all of America? This spending will be siphoned off into pork barrel projects that will accomplish absolutely nothing, and so the $3.5-trillion budget reconciliation “social infrastructure” bill that does not need any of those 19 Republican senators to pass will only add to the nation’s budget deficit pain.
The only hope for Congressional Republicans may be the push-pull of progressive House Democrats who want even more from the proposal opposite Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, and Krysten Sinema of Arizona, who may still be swayed to vote against the fiscally profligate social infrastructure package.
Despite the possibility of swaying Manchin and Sinema, one practical reality of the balance between Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate is that there is simply not much leverage on the Republican side, and many Republicans are fairly soft on the budget resolution, as made evident by the infrastructure bill vote. After a show of resistance, Republicans will be only too happy to cave in under the expectation that they can claim to their constituents that they brought home money for their district. Progressive Democrats most definitely want to add more “social infrastructure” spending to this bill, but these are the areas where they can expect the strongest resistance from Republicans throughout the conservative range.
These social programs include such giveaways as a proposed $726 billion for health education labor and pensions, which will not necessarily improve a single line item, but will fund professionals who execute the programs. Another $332 billion of the budget framework would go to banking and to the Department of Housing & Urban Development, the latter of which has had a poor track record of developing viable and vibrant neighborhoods with affordable housing.
The $198 billion for energy and natural resources – again, this is the initial blueprint, which will be amended, most likely upwards by the Democratic Party’s progressives -- will most certainly be wasted on various make-work projects, pie-in-the-sky theoretical save the earth projects and plain old-fashioned boondoggles. But as much as this proposed big spending is a hot-button for Republicans, they have an equal and opposite effect on progressives and far-left liberals, and given the strength of their convictions and current sway with the Democratic centrist establishment, they are not likely to relent or back off.
Searching for the Right answers to the big questions up for discussion in our civil political discourse? Tune in to The Hustings Week in Review Friday, August 13, on the new audio social media site Clubhouse. Enter our room beginning 5 p.m. Eastern time, to listen in or voice your opinion in our new discussion of the week’s news. Download the Clubhouse app at clubhouse.com or from your favorite app store, for free.
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Also in the Right Column
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>>>"Texas Democrats Should Vote Against Bills they Oppose," Bryan Williams' commentary about lawmakers who fled the state to avoid a quorum for voting legislation.
>>>>Opinion from "negatives" on the recent Braver Angels debate resolution: "America is a Racist Nation."
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