Biden Faces Conservative Opposition on Bridge Rebuild

the once and future bridgePhoto byPublic Use

President Biden, following a helicopter tour of the collapsed Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore, said the Federal government will pay for and expedite the bridge replacement, to eventually be recovered from the responsible parties.

He also said the bridge will be built with union labor and made with American steel. Conservatives in the House of Representatives apparently have issue with this and put conditions on the approval of the request sent by Biden for funding.

The conditions include waiving environmental and union wage regulations "to avoid all unnecessary delays and costs." The conservative group also said in a statement that the government should first seek compensation from foreign shipping companies responsible for the damage.

The President responded that the one of the busiest ports on the east coast cannot afford to wait for recovery of compensation. The government should step in immediately to assist, as it did with other bridge collapses in the nation.

The conservative "Freedom Caucus" also sided with House Speaker Mike Johnson with the following additional condition:

"The Biden administration's pause on approvals of liquified natural gas export terminals – which, like the Baltimore harbor closure, has severe implications for foreign trade – must be lifted before Congress considers appropriating any funding for the bridge reconstruction," the group said.

The terminals obviously have nothing to do with the bridge replacement itself. One wonders how the people of Baltimore feel about being caught in a political morass as they drive miles around the city and the docks sit empty?

Baltimore's Mayor Brandon Scott responded to the GOP stall by saying: "This is not a Democratic or Republican issue, it is an American Issue." The huge port benefits states and workers across the country.