AFP: Pass First, Read Later Approach is No Way to Legislate

Jul 19, 2021 by AFP

Arlington, Va. – Today, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer intends to file cloture to set up a procedural vote on Wednesday on the so-called Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework, which hasn’t been written yet. Americans for Prosperity (AFP) President Tim Phillips issued the following statement:

“This ‘pass first, read later’ approach repeatedly produces legislation filled with unrelated spending, special interest handouts, and accounting gimmicks that would never pass on their own. What little we do know about this proposal is that it’s short on reforms that could actually improve infrastructure and ultimately a down payment on Sen. Bernie Sanders’ wasteful $3.5 trillion ‘infrastructure’ reconciliation package of longstanding partisan priorities. Senators who argue they shouldn’t vote on bills they haven’t read should be outraged that they’re being forced to vote on a bill that doesn’t even exist.”

AFP recently launched a campaign focused on finding better ways to address infrastructure needs called “End Washington Waste: Stop the Spending Spree.” Lawmakers who want to improve roads and bridges should instead consider the following reforms:

Overhauling the regulatory and permitting system to modernize infrastructure reviews and reduce project costs
Eliminating costly and unfair labor restrictions
Preserving federal infrastructure dollars for targeted construction projects of a national priority and putting an end to the practice of spending gas tax revenues on non-highway projects
Unleashing private investment in infrastructure assets
Returning power and responsibility to the states wherever possible.

For further information or to set up an interview, please send an email to LIsidro@afphq.org.