Biden ignoring Republican bipartisan efforts, forcing progressive policies: Sen. Tim Scott

There should be debate over what commonsense, common-defined infrastructure looks like. As I said in my response to President Joe Biden's joint address to Congress, Republicans support everything you think of when you think of “infrastructure.” Roads, bridges, ports, airports, waterways, high-speed broadband – we’re all in. 

This administration has been ignoring good-faith, bipartisan efforts. Democrats have tried to slip in numerous partisan, progressive policies, including increasing the corporate tax rate to one of the highest percentages in the world. This would only disadvantage hardworking Americans and hike up inflation. Six percent of Biden's plan goes to roads and bridges. Where does the other 94% go? To a liberal wish list of Big Government waste, funded by the biggest job-killing tax hikes in a generation.    

Republicans aren’t alone in opposing this waste. In fact, one of the only bipartisan parts of this conversation is the opposition to President Biden's "infrastructure" bill. Both of my colleagues from West Virginia – Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican, and Joe Manchin, a Democrat – have vocally opposed the proposal, the so-called American Jobs Plan, or parts of it.     

I reject the premise that congressional Republicans have not proposed commonsense, common-ground alternatives. Led by Sen. Capito, we have proposed an alternative bill that sharpens the focus on infrastructure  priorities.

Republicans have continuously come to the table to work with this administration, but what good do these conversations produce if President Biden and congressional Democrats will circumvent the will of half the nation to push through this Trojan horse of progressive policies? We've seen them do it once with the "COVID relief bill," and we may see them do it again here.    

We have much more in common than we think, and if we can come together for the sake of our nation and its true infrastructure needs, we can once again build a stronger foundation for the next generation. If we work together, I am more than hopeful – I am confident – that our finest hour is yet to come.   

Tim Scott is a Republican Senator from South Carolina.