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Biden releases breakdown of what needs fixing in his $2trillion infrastructure plan that Republicans have called a 'dog's breakfast of slush funds for Democrat pet projects'

  Republicans slammed President   Joe Biden 's $2.7 trillion infrastructure plan as a 'dog's breakfast of slush funds' for D...

 Republicans slammed President Joe Biden's $2.7 trillion infrastructure plan as a 'dog's breakfast of slush funds' for Democrats ahead of bipartisan meeting at the White House to discuss the package. 

The GOP upped their criticism of the plan they say goes far beyond traditional infrastructure - with boosts in investments to tackle racial inequity and climate change - as the Biden administration released a state-by-state breakdown of problems that need addressing in each state.

This included the money needed to fix roads in dire conditions, barely functioning bridges, the lack of residents with access to broadband and veterans health. 


Biden will host four GOP lawmakers - along with four Democratic ones - on Monday to discuss his massive infrastructure plan, which Republicans have criticized for containing more than traditional infrastructure projects. 

The White House argues all its items - including money for improved schools and health - contributes to the nation's infrastructure.

But, in a memo circulated by the Senate GOP conference and obtained by DailyMail.com, Republicans assail Biden's plan as one that will 'kill jobs and create slush funds on the taxpayer dime.' 

They note the plan 'spends just 5% of the total $2.7 trillion on roads and bridges.' And they call it 'a dog's breakfast of slush funds for Democrats' pet projects without any accountability or transparency.'

They also cite a study from the National Association of Manufacturers that claims the legislation will result in 1 million jobs lost in the first two years. 

Biden, in contrast, calls his bill the American Jobs Plan, and claims it will create 19 million jobs - many of those 'good jobs, blue-collar jobs' as he describes them.

President Biden will host a bipartisan group of lawmakers at the White House on Monday to talk infrastructure and the White House released a state-by-state breakdown of what needs fixing ahead of that sit-down

President Biden will host a bipartisan group of lawmakers at the White House on Monday to talk infrastructure and the White House released a state-by-state breakdown of what needs fixing ahead of that sit-down


Additionally on Monday, the White House released a state-by-state breakdowns that show the dire shape of roads, bridges, the power grid and housing affordability - all part of its argument for the trillion dollar plan.

Biden's plan spends billions on roads, bridges and highways but it also funds additional projects such as broadband internet across the nation, affordable housing, improvements to schools and day care centers, and a Civilian Climate Corps. 

In detailed breakdowns for the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, the White House used private and public data to demonstrate the dire condition of roads and bridges in many states. 

The sheets also highlight the cost of extreme weather events and climate change has on the country and note the many areas that don't have broadband internet access, which became a huge issue when children needed to be home schooled and people had to telework during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, one of the five Cabinet officials Biden tasked with selling the plan, pushed back on the GOP criticism about the array of projects funded by the trillion dollar plan. 

'Look, I very much believe that all of these things are infrastructure, because infrastructure is the foundation that allows us to go about our lives,' he said Sunday on CNN's 'State of the Union.' 

'But if there are Senate Republicans who don't agree, we can agree to disagree on what to call it. I'm still going to ask you to vote for it. To me, it makes no sense to say, I would have been for broadband, but I'm against it because it's not a bridge. I would have been for eldercare, but I'm against it because it's not a highway. These are things the American people need,' he argued. 

The state-by-state breakdown details the bridges and roads that need fixing. Iowa (pictured above) has 4,571 bridges in need of repair

The state-by-state breakdown details the bridges and roads that need fixing. Iowa (pictured above) has 4,571 bridges in need of repair

The White House fact sheets also details the weather damage brought by climate change.It also details how more than 7,300 miles of roads in Michigan (above) need repairing

The White House fact sheets also details the weather damage brought by climate change.It also details how more than 7,300 miles of roads in Michigan (above) need repairing 


Among the specific projects the White House points out are: 7,300 miles of roads in Michigan hat are in poor condition; Damaged streets in North Carolina result in a yearly cost of $500 on motorists; Iowa has 4,571 bridges that need repair; and  Pennsylvania's schools are short $1.4 billion for maintenance and upgrades. 

The sheets also point out the benefits of the plan in the states from the GOP lawmakers meeting with Biden on Monday. 

In Nebraska, for example, 16.82% of Nebraskans live in areas where there is no broadband infrastructure that provides minimally acceptable speeds. And 50.98% of Nebraskans live in areas where there is only one such internet provider.

In Mississippi, an average low-income family spends 12-14% of their income on home energy costs forcing tough choices between paying energy bills and buying food, medicine or other essentials, the White House points out. The administration argues its plan will upgrade low-income homes to make them more energy efficient.

In Louisiana, from 2010 to 2020, the state experienced 30 extreme weather events, costing the state up to $50 billion in damages. And Alaska’s drinking water infrastructure will require $987 million in additional funding over the next 20 years.

Debate over the plan is expected to consume Capitol Hill over the next few months. Biden has indicated he's open to amending his original proposal as it moves through the legislative process. The White House is pushing for the plan to be passed by Memorial Day although Speaker Nancy Pelosi predicted it will take until Fourth of July. 

California by itself has 14,220 miles (San Francisco above) of highway in poor condition. Biden's infrastructure plan contains billions for traditional projects like roads but also contains funds for housing, schools, and fighting climate change

California by itself has 14,220 miles (San Francisco above) of highway in poor condition. Biden's infrastructure plan contains billions for traditional projects like roads but also contains funds for housing, schools, and fighting climate change

Mississippi residents are pictured lining up for clean water, which Biden has promised to set aside $4.8billion for. Republicans have criticized Biden's plan for containing more than just traditional infrastructure projects

Mississippi residents are pictured lining up for clean water, which Biden has promised to set aside $4.8billion for. Republicans have criticized Biden's plan for containing more than just traditional infrastructure projects


Republican Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, one of the four GOP lawmakers who will meet with Biden, said he's willing to negotiate but the trillion dollar price tag is too high. 

'I'm meeting with the president tomorrow at 1:30 if my plane gets into Washington on time,' he said Sunday on ABC's 'This Week.' 'We are willing to negotiate with him on an infrastructure package, and this trillion dollar number is way too high for me, I'll just tell you.'

Republicans also object to Biden funding the legislation by increasing the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28% and increasing the global minimum tax. They argue the changes will cause companies to flee America and result in more jobs being lost.

'This is a massive social welfare spending program combined with a massive tax increase on small-business job creators,' Wicker said. 'I can't think of a worse thing to do.'

Biden launched a full-throated defense of his corporate tax hike in a speech last week, saying he was tired of ordinary Americans being fleeced. 

Biden pointed to the numerous companies that don't pay taxes, the Trump tax cuts that benefited top wage earners, and the amount of money billionaires made during the K-shaped economic recovery. 

'I’m not trying to punish anybody, but damn it, maybe it's because I come from middle class neighborhood, I'm sick and tired of ordinary people being fleeced,' he said on Wednesday.

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