Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., on Sunday blasted President Joe Biden’s massive $2 trillion jobs plan as “a staggering” price tag for what amounts to a shopping spree by “someone with a new credit card.”
In an interview on ABC News’ “This Week,” Barrasso asserted only 6% of the Biden proposal would actually go to “hard” infrastructure projects, like roads and bridges, and touted a GOP counteroffer of $548 billion.
“We cannot continue with this reckless borrowing and spending, especially with the taxes coming out of a pandemic,” Barrasso said.
“These are for things we don’t necessarily need, we can’t afford, but they will delight the liberal left of the party,” he said of the Biden’s proposals for both jobs and families paid for by increasing taxes.
“It seems to me this is a cradle to grave role of government, whether it’s paying for child care for everyone, college pay for this, and it’s almost creating an addiction to spending. It’s either massive new debt to China as well as massive taxing, probably the largest tax – increase in 50 years.
According to Barrasso, Republicans have brought up counter offer of $548 billion.
“It is focused on core infrastructure — roads, bridges, ports, airports, waterways, things people think of when they think of infrastructure,” he said.
“Things that will get our economy firing on all cylinders. The problem is of course, President Biden’s proposal, only 6% of the money goes to bridges and things. The rest is for electric cars.”
Barrasso said “the other powerful Joe” — Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. — could play a key role.
“Democrats are also getting concerned about the spending, realize they’re going to be held accountable in the 2022 election, and some Democrats most privately are saying, this isn’t sustainable,” he said.
“I have been working regularly with the other powerful Joe in Washington, Joe Manchin, and we’re focusing on core infrastructure,” he said. “President Biden calls it hard infrastructure as opposed to soft infrastructure.
“So I believe there’s a deal to be had if we leave things out like the green new deal, and justice. $500 billion to $600 billion is a massive amount, and we ought to start with the core.”
Source: Newmax
