Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg defended the Biden administration's broad definition of infrastructure in the American Jobs Plan, saying President Joe Biden is still aiming for Republican support for the plan while looking for progress on it by Memorial Day.
"I very much believe that all of these things are infrastructure because infrastructure is the foundation that allows us go about our lives," Buttigieg told CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union."
Biden is pushing his roughly $2 trillion plan for improving the nation's infrastructure as his next major legislative focus after successfully signing his massive coronavirus relief package into law. The plan, however, has already met resistance from congressional Republicans who balk at its price tag and consider its definition of infrastructure — from transportation to reshaping the US economy and social safety net — as overly broad.
#CNN #JakeTapper #StateoftheUnion
When Biden first announced that Pete would be in charge of transportation I thought “well, that’s a waste of that big brain” Now that I see that infrastructure is one of the key focus points of his administration and needs to be sold on TV I say it was a pro gamer move.
@Ksoulx don’t reply and show your ignorance
@red sky please provide some recent relevant examples
@Green party of Wakanda I learned the difference between “your” and “you’re” in the first grade. Boy bye, don’t waste my time…
@duchesswannabe I’m dyslexic and you’re low IQ, we all have challenges in life
While we were arguing about the definition of infrastructure, China built 2 more super cities and 1,000 miles of high speed rail. We’re being left behind.
@Joboygbp Edwards I’m talking about the 2018 midterm elections. It’s an objective fact that the healthcare bill was a major reason republicans lost. After that Democrats had power in the committees to start investigations
Totally correct. The US just can’t seem to stop being bogged down by political issues and anything else that divides the country. We can do better than to keep on falling and failing.
@David McMillan Trump didn’t lose. The massive fraud from all the unsolicited ballots sent out is why he lost. Haven’t you seen pictures or video of Joe’s dismal rallies? He couldn’t even draw 30 people to the few rallies he did have. Then compare his rallies to Trumps. We all know why and how Dementia Joe won.
@David McMillan As far as 2018 midterms, go I think you’re wrong. Trump wanted good affordable healthcare for all. Not BS, useless Obama/Biden care.
@Joboygbp Edwards lmao, I wasn’t even talking about the 2020 election. My friend I’m sorry to tell you but you’re part of a personality cult and not listening to reason. For your own health you should stop thinking of the guy as a god. That’s all I’m gonna say now.
Isn’t it odd that people fight against programs that benefit them personally? Health care, infrastructure, new technology…
@Pedro The Mexican -U must be a Russian troll trying to create conflict. Anyone who lives in this country knows we don’t tax ppl based on race, that’s unconstitutional. In addition, this infrastructure bill only taxes corporations, at least at this point, not individuals.
@Roxie A Robinson -no, it’s not. Government spending is based on return on investment. If investment costs less and is better for the US than not investing, then investing is the better option. U need to learn more about how government and geo-political situations.
@Jiminy Cricket -Ur out of ur mind. We r backing the Afghan government and their military. The Taliban had control of about 90% of Afghanistan when we invaded in 2001. W/in 2mos we took control of the country and then backed the group who wasn’t helping al-Qaeda in the 9/11 terrorist attack. We spend more on defense than the next 5 countries combined. No one wants to go to war w/the US. Trump helped the Taliban bc they r a terrorist group backed by Russia and Trump worked really well for Putin. Of course Russia and the Taliban want the US out of the Middle East so they can allow terrorist to take over and attack the US and our allies. U sound like a foreign troll.
@Almanza Down South -U have it confused. Not addressing our problems and investing in America costs more and continues the decline of the M&L classes. Do the research. Learn how governments and the economy work, look at how other wealthy democracies do it, learn our history, etc. from 1880-1932 & 1980-2020, republicans controlled most states, the house, senate, and WH most of the time. Look at the economic stats, income and wealth inequality, investment in America, capitalism for the few, etc. Then compare that to 1933-1979 when Dems controlled many states, the house, senate, and WH most of the time. U’ll see the the opposite outcomes, how Dem policies create a better economy, a fairer economy between all 3 classes, a growing economy, capitalism for the many, and how republicans r just conning M&L class voters to vote against their own best interest and in the best interest of the wealthy and corporations. We r in a similar situation as we were in around 1929. Reviewing history, the US who elected FSR, progressive Dem, and Dem congress vs Italy and Germany w/their far-right fascist dictators Mussolini and Hitler, tells us how we can fix the economic problems we face and what kind of governments/policies don’t work.
@ldjstudy -The wealthy and corporations aren’t paying their fair share of taxes. They need to be but government spending is different from an individuals spending. Good spending is investing in America which gives us the biggest return on investment, like education, healthcare, infrastructure, scientific and technological research, etc. This produces a long-term growing economy where, for example, every $1 we spend we get back $4. Tax cuts/socialism for the rich/corporations and defunding America in the areas stated above, yields the lowest return on investment, in fact, it costs us more than what we spend bc it creates more social problems, drug addiction, unhealthy society, societal unrest, instability, etc.
Adding money for un related projects in bills has been going on 200 years. Just easier to fun d projects. Project still needed and not “Pork”.
Despite the pollution of this time, I believe that there is pure breath, but very rare … 🕊🕊💖
A bit esoteric, but yea – sure!
https://youtu.be/0AcMp9JJ8q0
We could’ve already had this passed over 20 years ago. Republicans continuously get in the way of progress and needed legislation. If Republicans care about the American people and the country, how come they haven’t put forth any infrastructure legislation when they’re in power?
they have that Senator Barosso and even Bernie Sanders voted for! It was bipartisan! Democrats filibusted it! Now, Democrats can’t even get the support of their own colleagues and know this bill will fail with Joe Manchin and other Democrat senators. https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2021/3/on-abc-s-this-week-barrasso-discusses-democrats-blue-state-bailout-future-infrastructure-bill
Cause when they are in power they are about improving their personal financial status….when dems are in charge all they have is to blame blame and distract…
https://youtu.be/0AcMp9JJ8q0
So sad we can’t get both parties behind this because as we all know this countries infrastructure is falling apart. Whether it is our dams,roads,bridges,tunnels,airports and our roads. How long are we gonna wait to fix all these problems🤷🏻♂️
This country is fifty TRILLION in debt. No more borrow and print phony money.
@Steve Madrid No more tax cuts for the already rich. Tax cuts cost. Infrastructure is an investment.
I saw this posted somewhere: History of US Presidents in emojis: 👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏽👴🏻👴🏻
Individually the GQP is behind infrastructure, they just won’t give the Dems and therefore themselves the win. Childish games are destroying the country.
@Susan Teeter You are Baizuo.
What a well spoken politician!
I always tell my kid about the adage, “Pay me now or pay me later”. I also add that if you pay later, the cost is higher. For example, what is forgotten is that these internet providers, which we called “telcos” in the 90’s, got huge tax breaks and were able to charge fees to customers that were to go towards building internet infrastructure. They took this money on the promise that they would deliver 45Mbps internet (both up and down) by 2005, at the cost of about $40-50/month. It also supposed to provide better access to rural communities. Instead, the lobbyists got to work and lowered the definition of “broadband” down to DSL speeds and telcos pocketed the money. Fast-forward to today and, with COVID-19, we found out just how bad off we are with many not being able to afford decent access and many rural folks not able to even get access where they live. I saw a story about one woman who worked out of her car because she had to drive to a place to get wifi connectivity. Another story along these same lines involved a family who had to do something similar so their kids could do remote learning. Had we done this in the nineties, we would be talking about upgrading, at most. Today, we are still talking about building.
thank you. That was a good reminder
False axiom. Two of them really.
Way to see through the noise. (Didn’t we agree to put up with some privacy issues so facebook could be free? Now we have ads and hacks.) Pete is the real deal, Id like to help him while he is in a position to help us. While I have your specific ear, can I add that we are being trained not to read before we sign with the repeated terms of use agreements. Also, how can we make sure our kids don’t end up thinking ‘Alexa’ is a better authority figure? It’s a lot. I’m thrilled we have intelligent, contextual thinkers working on this. It seems overwhelming, we have to keep on it.
I saw this posted somewhere: History of US Presidents in emojis: 👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏽👴🏻👴🏻
Thé trillions would not even be enough for the reconstructions of your roads and bridge
Buttigieg is always on point👍🏼
@Herpa Derp You started by saying he lied, then you switched to he “framed” it wrong, now you are saying I’m using a logical fallacy by pointing out that you’re wrong. That’s your opinion on his framing, that doesn’t mean he isn’t on point, it’s just your opinion…It’s neither right or wrong. Regardless the bill is beneficial, and you’re complaining in the comments accusing him of being a liar. I’m glad you aren’t in charge of anything that’s important.
@coolguy556 It is a lie. He has an excuse for it that he should have said it otherwise but if I told you my store will create 19000005 jobs that’s a lie. He lied.
@coolguy556 Also you know nothing about me. The fact you have to make these gymnastics about who I am speaks more about you than me.
@Herpa Derp you are projecting lol.. you called me lost, biased, and said I have no critical thinking. And you can say he lied as many times as you want, the fact is that there would be 19 mil jobs at the end of the day, therefore he didn’t lie. Anyways I’m done explaining why you’re wrong, you clearly don’t understand. U can have last word lol
@coolguy556 I appreciate it. My assertions were based on your comments. Yours were based on wishful thinking to make yourself feel better. I refuse to believe you’re this stupid to not see how it’s a lie so I’m just going to attribute it to blinding bias. Thank you for the conversation it was entertaining.
They have to keep calling out the Republican congress that is willing to do absolutely nothing. It has to be called out 10 times a day!
Keep borrowing and spending. You may run your personal expenses no matter what that ends badly.
@Steve Madrid Tell that to the Rockefellers. It’s funny when people with a nickels worth of knowledge try to hold forth.
I saw this posted somewhere: History of US Presidents in emojis: 👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏻👴🏽👴🏻👴🏻
@A W That’s very telling. Would be interesting to see this done for multiple nations – for comparison. Might be very eye-opening.
@A W There’s a clown missing…
Human infrastructure, as important as engineering infrastructure. Investing in the structure of society is also very important.
Infrastructure is a general term for the basic physical systems of a country, so yes, elder care and dreamers are part of that basic physical system required for a country to function. In other words, pretty much everything is infrastructure.
@Dr. Enoch Tse, P.Eng. well according to you EVERYTHING is infrastructure. Serious question………do you think it’s possible for you to formulate an opinion without having your political/media masters dictate it to you? Have fun being a useful idiot of the establishment
@Ralph Sims Everything IS infrastructure when it comes to policymaking. Because that’s the basic physical system that a country relies on to function. There are mainly two types of infrastructure: social and economic. Social infrastructure deals mainly with the physical system that supports the social fabric of the society. Economic infrastructure deals mainly with the physical system that supports the economic structure of the society. The term “infra” means below, so “infrastructure” literally means “structure below”.
@Dr. Enoch Tse, P.Eng. mental gymnastics must make you exhausted. How do you square that with the fact that Biden has literally been everything he promised he wouldn’t be?
@Dr. Enoch Tse, P.Eng. oh and this “infrastructure bill” is nothing more than political PORK for your masters in the establishment
@AntonioR Software Actually, that could be argued as part of the infrastructure. You should read up on the definition of infrastructure.
“maybe a vaccine is part of God’s plan for how you are going to take care of yourself….”. Well said; how many church leaders will take up this message?
Jaketapper id si negative.
For the past four years, the previous “administration” had annual infrastructure week. Nothing got done. So get on board or get out of the way, GOP.
And yes, that train reference is a reference to President Biden’s affection for that mode of transportation.
Obama had eight years. So did Clinton in the 90s.
Pete keeps pulling me into feeling hopeful. I Love this guy. Fantastic leadership, changes my thoughts from, “Forget it!” to, “Right, I can help, too.”
“Pray to God for help but while you’re waiting for his answer, go ahead and steer the boat away from the rocks.” Hunter Thompson
Pete is so smart and I love how eloquent he is when he answers questions. He is doing an amazing job.