On a recent Wednesday, President Joe Biden, while promoting his successful “Bidenomics” fiscal program in Pueblo, Colorado, sharply criticized Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Florida Republican Vern Buchanan for their audacious act of claiming credit for a $30 million federally-funded infrastructure project in Sarasota, Florida, despite having voted against the legislation that made it possible.
The project, located in Sarasota, Florida, is expected to create thousands of jobs over time and is funded by the bipartisan recession law. Despite their opposition to the legislation, both Johnson and Buchanan were seen touring the construction of a new terminal at the airport, a project made possible by the very law they voted against.
Biden, speaking to workers and local officials at CS Wind, a company in the district represented by U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), highlighted the success of his fiscal program. He pointed out the hundreds of new jobs created by tax incentives for clean energy initiatives, countering Boebert’s description of his climate policies as a ‘massive failure’.
In his speech, Biden directly addressed Johnson and Buchanan’s actions, stating, “Both the Speaker and the Congressman voted against the law. And spoke against the law. But now they’re down there taking credit for it being built.” He went on to describe their actions as ‘chutzpah’, a term used to express audacity or nerve.
Watch the President’s Speech below or at this link.
Biden: The new Republican Speaker with Vern Buchanan just visited Sarasota to tour the construction of a new terminal. Both of them voted against the law but now they’re down there taking credit for it.. pic.twitter.com/KS5fyVg5Xj
— Acyn (@Acyn) November 29, 2023
The success of Biden’s fiscal program has been widely recognized. As the editorial board of the Las Vegas Sun wrote in August, “The success of Bidenomics is well beyond debate”. Former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich also praised the program, writing in an essay that Bidenomics “is turning out to be the most successful set of economic policies the United States has witnessed in a half-century”.
This incident underscores the ongoing political tensions and the contentious nature of the infrastructure project. Despite the criticism, the project continues to move forward, promising significant economic benefits for Florida and potentially setting a precedent for future federally-funded infrastructure projects.
President Biden’s recent criticism of Republicans for taking credit for a project they voted against highlights the ongoing political tensions surrounding federally funded infrastructure projects. Despite these challenges, Biden’s fiscal program, “Bidenomics”, continues to show promise, creating hundreds of new jobs and receiving widespread recognition for its success.
This incident serves as a reminder of the complexities of political decision-making and the importance of accountability in public service. As the infrastructure project moves forward, it will be interesting to see how these dynamics continue to play out and what impact they will have on future federally funded initiatives.
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