Tom Tiffany: “We just heard a statement from the President that was read just before we came here as the Western Caucus, and he talked…”

“We just heard a statement from the President that was read just before we came here as the Western Caucus, and he talked about the infrastructure bill and other pieces of legislation that are doing these wonders for Americans. I would just point out a few flaws with what he is saying. If you go to Vilas County in the Seventh Congressional District in Wisconsin, right near where I live, and there is a small town that is attempting to get a road project done via Federal funding with the infrastructure bill. The quote that they have gotten, as a result of having to go through Federal permitting, is $1.5 million. I think it is to fix 2.6 miles of road. I went to a local road contractor and asked them: How much would it cost if you didn't have to go through the Federal process? Half of that, $750,000. We are not going to get the bang for our buck and get more projects done, including ones that could benefit the environment, as a result of having to pay far more for that Federal permitting process. Also, the President talked extensively about the Green New Deal and this great thing that is going to happen to the United States of America. Wisconsin was just warned this last year for the first time that we may be subject to blackouts this summer. Why is that? Because we are going to intermittent sources of power. We are not replacing our baseload power.…”