AGC decries GOP whipping against infrastructure bill

Stephen Sandherr, CEO of the Associated General Contractors of America, voiced his displeasure with House minority whip Steve Scalise lobbying his party against the infrastructure bill sitting before the House. Photo: Art Wager/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

Stephen Sandherr, CEO of the Associated General Contractors of America, issued a statement voicing his displeasure with Rep. Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) for encouraging party members to vote against the $1 trillion infrastructure bill.

Scalise is the House minority whip.

“The House Republican leadership’s unfortunate decision to encourage its members to vote against the bipartisan infrastructure bill puts at risk legislation that President Trump would have proudly signed when he was in office,” Sandherr says. “This measure is virtually identical to the infrastructure proposals the former president put forth while he was in office. That is why 19 Republicans voted in support of the measure when it passed in the Senate [in August].”

According to The Hill, Scalise sent out a notice saying this House Republican decision stems from Democrats linking the infrastructure bill with their $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill. A vote on the bill is currently scheduled for Sept. 27.

“There is no question that Republicans vehemently oppose the reckless policies included in the reconciliation bill, and Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi’s legislative strategy solidifies that a vote for the infrastructure bill paves the way for passage of reconciliation,” Scalise says in the notice. “Republicans should not aid in this destructive process.”

Sandherr adds that the infrastructure bill before the House represents the best opportunity to create construction jobs and invest in infrastructure.

“Voting against the measure will only create new economic hardships for American businesses and commuters,” Sandherr says. “Members of Congress were elected to help their constituents instead of creating new hardships for them. That is why we are urging all representatives to vote for the bipartisan infrastructure bill.”