The more conservatives look at the $1.2 trillion pork-filled “infrastructure” bill currently worming its way through the legislative intestines of capitol hill, the less they like it.
Vance Ginn and E. J. Antoni of the Texas Public Policy Foundation: “It has just $110 billion, or less than 10%, for what’s historically been considered infrastructure—roads and bridges. The other 90% is to fund mass transit waste, green energy nonsense, and more items that the states or the private sector could do.”
Speaking of green energy nonsense:
Obscured in more than 2,700 pages of the U.S. Senate’s so-called bipartisan “infrastructure” bill is a plan for state-mandated carbon reduction programs….
“A state, in consultation with any metropolitan planning organization designated within the state, shall develop a carbon reduction strategy,” according to the text, which is also in the officially released version of the bill.
The federal government oversees metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), which are designated by agreement between the governor and local governments and represent localities in all urbanized areas (UZAs) with populations over 50,000, as determined by the U.S. Census, according to the Federal Transit Administration. There are at least 420 MPOs in the United States, the National Association of Regional Councils estimated.
No later than two years after the bill’s enactment, states would have to present their carbon reduction programs for approval to the secretary of transportation. The proposed strategies must meet several requirements to be considered “green” enough.
Requirements include but are not limited to:
Reducing traffic congestion by disincentivizing single-occupant vehicle trips and facilitating “the use of alternatives” like public transportation, shared or pooled vehicle trips, “pedestrian facilities,” and “bicycle facilities” within the state. Facilitating the use of vehicles or modes of travel that result in “lower transportation emissions per person-mile traveled as compared to existing vehicles.” Incentivizing the construction of vehicles that emit less carbon.
Mark Tapscott also notes that the bill tests a new federal tax on every mile Americans drive:
Buried in the “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act” in the U.S. Senate is approval for the Department of Transportation (DOT) to test a new federal tax on every mile driven by individual Americans.
The bill directs Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to establish a pilot program to demonstrate a national motor vehicle per-mile user fee designed “to restore and maintain the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund.”
The objectives of the pilot program include:
To test the design, acceptance, implementation, and financial sustainability of a national motor vehicle per-mile user fee.
To address the need for additional revenue for surface transportation infrastructure and a national motor vehicle per-mile user fee.
To provide recommendations relating to the adoption and implementation of a national motor vehicle per-mile user fee.
Although the new tax is described as a pilot program and would initially rely upon “volunteers” representing all 50 states, the infrastructure measure would also require the Treasury Department to establish a mechanism to collect motor vehicle per-mile user fees from the participants.
This is a very bad camel to let get its nose into the tent.
Plus it institutes racial quotas on broadband.
Right now the bill is being slow-walked while the senate fights over amendments. Knowing the way Washington works, no amendments can fix this monstrosity, not least because it spends money we don’t have on garbage we don’t need to line the pockets of people who view taxpayers as pinatas. Republican senators should filibuster this budget-busting bill.
Tags: Budget, Carbon Offsets, Democrats, E. J. Antoni, Green New Deal, Mark Tapscott, pork barrel, Taxes, Texas Public Policy Foundation, transportation, Vance Ginn, waste
“no amendments can fix this monstrosity”
the intent will not be to fix it, but to get in on the feeding frenzy. there will be lots of amendments for more spending on more non-infrastructure.
and next year before midterms they’ll do it all again, only twice as much, to try to get people to vote for the ones supplying all the free money.
“people who view taxpayers as pinatas”
plow horses. people who view taxpayers as plow horses.
“a new federal tax on every mile driven”
in the next phase, mandatory gps tracking of all vehicles, enabling tailored taxation by individual, by road, by time of day, by mileage tiers, and by type of vehicle driven. The People of course will be exempted and will drive what they want where they want when they want.
and right on cue. from zerohege, “Senators File Nearly 300 Amendments”. heh, that’s 3/senator.
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A single amendment can fix this monstrosity
“with the exception of this amendment, the contents of this bill are null and void.”
It saddens and infuriates me in equal parts that we cannot build anything in this country anymore. Our new public buildings and spaces are ugly modern half-designed kludges. Even in a bill named the infrastructure bill, there’s almost no funding for infrastructure, much less the great works we used to throw off year by year. I fear we’ve totally lost our way.
And with one fell swoop (always wanted to say that in a comment), the Secretary of Transportation could become the single most powerful man in the bureaucracy.
Another point: did these fools learn anything from the Rona about cramming tons of people into small confined spaces? Obviously not.
We need the EV charging facilities. Need off of fossil fuels and away from ICEs yesterday. To have cleaner Entergy and get to a zero carbon emission. The only reason Republicans are against it is that Democrats are for it! When the GOP gets back in will be the same way!
Thank you for exposing the Dems dirty Deeds
I pray that this bill does NOT pass.
It’s sickening a d indecent to call it Infrastructure when it’s a new large motor vehicle use TAX on all of us Americans who know how, can afford/and manage to cough up $ at the pump l, TO DRIVE.
Please Republicans, StOP this Bill
I need one or two of those money trees at my house
I say if we want to lower emissions, we should use less power. There us no alternative that can hold up the current grid. Therefore, shut down the lights in Vegas, TV and computers at home only for schoolwork or 8 to 10 pm. Electric cars need to be charged so more working from home. Only one vacation per year traveling more than 100 miles. Mandatory car pooling. Lights out at 10 pm. We need to become less reliant on any energy and not alternate sources that won’t fit the bill
Grew up thinking I would never have to experience (thank god) living in a communist country. Now it appears I was wrong. People seem willing to give up there rights for a LITTLE feel good brought about by insignificant results from bending over for the environmental reform groups. Nobody is considering the results of all these restrictions on the economy or the people. One of the responses call for what amounts to shutting everything down every night and get no rewards for your hard work everyday. Also doesn’t take into account that a lot of Industry runs 24/7/365. Granted we are descending into a communist country but people still have to feel like they are working for something beyond their next meal. I am very afraid of the Democrats forcing through the infrastructure bill since MOST of has nothing to do with infrastructure and everything to do taking as much power as they can and locking down everyone else into servitude.
Why is it that no one is talking about Trump would not have lost the election had not dirty money from Soros & his gang of billionaires been allowed to payoff so many people to allow all of the cheating they needed to win.
This is what is so disgusting.
Jim Hooper
Soros certainly played a hand in underwritting lots of misdeeds in 2020. But go back in time and Democrats were cheating this openly in places like Philadelphia well before now.