Here’s how South Carolina’s senators voted on the $1T infrastructure bill
South Carolina’s two U.S. senators were split on a vote Tuesday when the Senate passed a $1 trillion infrastructure package, legislation that could bring billions of dollars to the Palmetto State.
Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham was among 19 Republicans who voted to send the bill to the House, set to debate it next.
“The bipartisan infrastructure bill is good for South Carolina. It provides much-needed help for our roads, bridges, ports, and expands broadband internet access. I have always been supportive of infrastructure investment and wish we had passed this years ago,” Graham, of Seneca, said in a statement shortly after the vote. “This bill provides American infrastructure with a much-needed face lift.”
But the state’s junior senator, Republican U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, of North Charleston, who is up for reelection in 2022, did not.
“I support targeted investment in upgrading our nation’s roads, bridges, ports, broadband, and other real infrastructure needs. But I cannot support more reckless spending on unrelated pet projects that will suffocate our future generations with mountains of debt,” Scott said in a statement. “Rather than taking a common sense approach to investing in infrastructure, this bill has been rushed through so Democrats can spend trillions more dollars we don’t have on liberal policies we don’t need—all amid record inflation. American families cannot afford to foot the bill for this ‘spend now, tax later’ plan, which is why I voted no.”
The bill — the latest attempt by President Joe Biden’s administration to create an infrastructure package that both parties could agree on — ultimately passed the Senate 69-30.
The infrastructure package, which is focused on bridge and road repairs, electric vehicle charging station expansion and broadband expansion, would bring nearly $10 billion to South Carolina, according to estimates from the Biden administration.
The largest chunk — nearly $5 billion over five years — would go to improve public transportation options across the state. An additional $4.6 billion would go to highway improvements, and $274 million would go to bridge repairs.
Democrats and Republicans have spent months in negotiations over the infrastructure bill.
Republicans have argued that earlier versions of the legislation were not narrowly focused enough on infrastructure and had too much money allocated for non-infrastructure-related projects. Democrats pushed to include in the bill initiatives that focused on curbing climate change and expanding access to broadband.
Despite its bipartisan success in the Senate, the bill is set for a steep uphill battle in the House.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, has said the House will not take up the infrastructure bill until the Senate passes a $3.5 trillion budget resolution, which so far has only garnered support from Democrats.
That resolution is largely focused on Biden’s social policies and would include funding for climate initiatives, health care and education. Pelosi was joined by members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus — who represent a large voting bloc in the House — who vowed to withhold their support until the budget resolution passes as well.
This story was originally published August 10, 2021 at 12:10 PM with the headline "Here’s how South Carolina’s senators voted on the $1T infrastructure bill."
