Pete Buttigieg mocks Republicans who opposed infrastructure bill but are now taking credit for it

Out Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg had some sharp words for Republican members of Congress who voted against President Joe Biden’s massive infrastructure bill – sometimes speaking against it in harsh terms – who are now getting projects funded from that bill in their districts and taking credit for them.

“I think it’s important for these members of Congress, for their constituents to know where they stood when we were fighting to get this money in the first place,” Buttigieg told MSNBC’s Alex Wagner.

Related:

Clueless Kyrsten Sinema claims credit for infrastructure bill after holding up Biden agenda

Twitter quickly reacted to Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s grandstanding – and users weren’t kind.

He noted that “this bill didn’t come easy” and was “declared dead multiple times.” Many Congressional Republicans “stood in the way, denounced it as wasteful spending, denounced it as socialism,” he said.

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“Of course, what’s remarkable is they don’t think it’s socialism when it’s coming to their districts,” Buttigieg quipped. “They think it’s so great that they want to be at the press conference, they send press releases touting their advocacy for it, sometimes they even describe themselves as having secured it, which is… obviously it’s hard not to chuckle at that sitting in the Department of Transportation that’s approving some of these grants.”

Buttigieg: Many Republicans stood in the way and denounced it as socialism. Of course, what's remarkable is it turns out that they don't think it is socialism when it's coming to their district. pic.twitter.com/s4dKrVKyEm

— Acyn (@Acyn) July 12, 2023

Later in the interview, Buttigieg said that Republicans switching sides now that the bill has passed shows that it’s a good policy.

“The sign of a bad policy is the people who pushed it abandoned it later on,” he said. “The sign of a good policy is even the people who fought it and stood in the way at the time come to support it.”

“I just wish they would be a little more straightforward and maybe even go so far as to acknowledge they were wrong when they said that this infrastructure bill was a bad idea and they were wrong to call it socialism.”

“If it is socialism, then it seems to be socialism that these Republicans love when it’s coming their way.”

Buttigieg: The sign of a bad policy is the people who pushed it, abandon it. The sign of a good policy is even the people who fought it and stood in the way of the time, come to support it. pic.twitter.com/sGxWVyjqY0

— Acyn (@Acyn) July 12, 2023

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed in late 2021 over very vocal opposition from many Republican members of Congress. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), for example, was one of the most vocal opponents of the bill in the House, calling it “wasteful” and “garbage” in November 2021 and vowing to “hold these fake republicans accountable,” referring to the “RINOS” [Republicans In Name Only] who broke party ranks and voted for the bill.

But many Republicans quietly asked Buttigieg for funding for projects in their districts after the bill was passed. Boebert was busted in June 2022 asking Buttigieg for over $33 million for a rural transportation project. Her letter stressed the importance of the project in improving “the sole paved access route to the South Corridor.”

“I respectfully urge your full and fair consideration of this competitive grant application,” Boebert concluded her letter.

When asked about her change of heart, she said that she is “for investing in rural Colorado” but still opposes the bill.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) made headlines last month after he tweeted support for the bill. “Broadband is vital for the success of our rural communities and for our entire economy,” Tuberville wrote. “Great to see Alabama receive crucial funds to boost ongoing broadband efforts.”

Twitter community notes added “context” to his tweet that said, “Senator Tuberville voted against the bill that is providing this funding.”

Biden cheekily tweeted at Tuberville: “See you at the groundbreaking.”

See you at the groundbreaking. https://t.co/1kJZ2h3JZW

— President Biden (@POTUS) June 28, 2023