Herrera Beutler says she’ll vote against $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill

Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, said she intended to vote “no” on the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill when it comes up for a vote on Capitol Hill.

The bipartisan legislation includes new investments in transportation, water, power and broadband infrastructure. It also focuses on funding remedies for legacy pollution and climate change. It must be approved by the House of Representatives before it goes to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature.

House Democrats didn’t want to vote on the infrastructure bill before voting on the additional $3.5 trillion Build Back Better Act. This legislation would expand upon child and dependent care, lower education costs, and make health care more accessible. Wealthy Americans and corporations would also get a tax increase.

Herrera Beutler did not want to support the bipartisan infrastructure legislation if it meant also passing the additional spending bill, she said in a statement. She called the Build Back Better Act the most expensive piece of legislation in U.S. history.

In the statement, Herrera Beutler said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and members of the Progressive Caucus were using the smaller bill as leverage.

“If the traditional infrastructure bill were being voted on under normal circumstances, we would be having a different conversation right now,” she said. “As it stands, I won’t vote to help make it easier for liberals to pass their giant monstrosity of a social spending wish list and tax hike under the false banner of ‘infrastructure.’ ”