Alabama Republican touts provision in infrastructure bill he voted against | TheHill – The Hill

Rep. Gary PalmerGary James PalmerMo Brooks launches Senate bid in Alabama Former Trump officials eye bids for political office The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by TikTok - Senate trial will have drama, but no surprise ending MORE (R-Ala.) this week touted a provision in the bipartisan infrastructure law that President BidenJoe BidenIdaho state House passes worker vaccine compensation bill Biden sends 2016 climate treaty to Senate for ratification Rubio vows to slow-walk Biden's China, Spain ambassador nominees MORE signed on Monday, despite the fact that he voted against the legislation.

Palmer issued a statement Monday highlighting a provision under which Alabama will receive$369 million over five years for a road project in the state called the Northern Beltline.

This is the opportunity we have been working for as a region and a state," Palmer said. "Now is the time for us to take advantage of it and complete the work by finishing the Northern Beltline and building a better future for the Birmingham metro area and central Alabama.

Palmer's statement drew criticism on Twitter from Democratic lawmakers such as Sen. Brian SchatzBrian Emanuel SchatzTelehealth was a godsend during the pandemic; Congress should keep the innovation going Framing our future beyond the climate crisis Manchin frustrates Democrats with latest outburst MORE (Hawaii) and Rep. Eric SwalwellEric Michael SwalwellThe Memo: Democrats may rue pursuit of Bannon Mo Brooks says he would 'be proud' if staff helped organize Jan. 6 rally GOP ekes out win in return of Congressional Baseball Game MORE (Calif.), who noted that he voted against the infrastructure package.

"You mean the funding you voted against? That funding?" Swalwell tweeted.

You mean the funding you voted against? That funding? #DemocratsDeliver https://t.co/AphlEVfN3P

Palmer spokeswoman Elizabeth Hance said in a statementthat the congressman would have voted for stand-alone legislation he authored that included funding for the Northern Beltline. Hance also said that Palmer noted his support for funding the Alabama project in his statement about his vote against the infrastructure package.

Had they brought the bill he authored to the floor as a stand-alone piece of legislation, or even a package that was truly paid-for infrastructure, he would have supported the overall bill. They did not, Hance said. It should not be surprising that he supports a provision that he authored and that was noted in [Palmers] initial [statement] about the infrastructure bill.

"The bill was full of problems, including items not related to traditional infrastructure," she added. "The overall bill will increase energy costs, drive up the debt, and pave the way for more wasteful spending."

In his Nov. 6 statement about the vote on the infrastructure bill, Palmer said that "Democrats have shown they are willing to recklessly push through a bill that costs over a trillion dollars with only about 10 percent going to roads and bridges." He added that at least the bill includes legislation which I introduced with Rep. David TroneDavid John TroneHouse GOP campaign arm expands target list after brutal night for Dems We must protect the heroes on the front lines in our communities Legislators want three counties to secede Maryland for West Virginia MORE (D-MD) that includes funding for the Birmingham Northern Beltline.

Only 13 House Republicans voted for the infrastructure law, while nearly every Democratic House memberbacked the measure.

Updated at 10:59 a.m.

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