Another week has gone by where Congressional Democrats failed to come to an agreement on a partisan spending bill, often called “reconciliation”, consisting of President Biden’s agenda that will cost our country $trillions, stunt our economic recovery, further fuel inflation, and change the relationship American citizens have with the government. Instead of coming together to pass bipartisan legislation, Speaker Pelosi has spent the last several weeks trying to force a vote on this partisan package that members of her own party can’t even agree on.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is responsible for providing cost estimates on proposed legislation to give us an idea of the effect it will have on revenue and spending. They have not yet provided a report on this legislation. Speaker Pelosi knows this, but has been trying to force a vote anyway. Along with 34 of my colleagues, I wrote the Director of the CBO requesting a report on the fiscal impacts of this partisan spending bill. 

The Democrats "infrastructure" bill, which passed the House late Friday night, is a perfect example of why obtaining a CBO score is essential before Congress votes to enact new spending. While Democrats claimed this infrastructure is fully paid for, the CBO estimate shows a nearly $400 billion shortfall. 

This "infrastructure" package recklessly spends upwards of $1 trillion as inflation is surging to levels we have not seen in 13 years. Even worse, it is not truly legislation to improve our nation's infrastructure. Only about 10 percent of the so-called "infrastructure" package goes toward roads and bridges, while the bulk of the new spending goes toward things like Green New Deal initiatives and other items not traditionally considered infrastructure. 

Further, because Speaker Pelosi proclaimed that this "infrastructure" bill is tied to the reconciliation package, a vote for the "infrastructure" bill was, in essence, a vote to enable the enactment of a Democratic agenda that will fundamentally remake America. 

Congress has been spending money at an unsustainable pace and this bill, combined with reconciliation, is a reckless spending spree that will devalue the paychecks of working Americans.

Furthermore, the partisan reconciliation bill is said to have been scaled back from its original $3.5 trillion to, now, roughly $1.75 trillion. The prestigious Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, however, estimates that the true cost of this legislation is likely twice the amount Speaker Pelosi is advertising — nearly $4 trillion. This is unacceptable with our national debt nearly $29 trillion and growing larger every day. The debt and deficit not only hurt our economy, but they also affect our national security and the futures of our children and grandchildren. 

To be clear, I voted no on the "infrastructure" package and I will not vote for the reconciliation bill. Congress has been spending far too much money and these two bills expand government far beyond what is appropriate. The CBO report will, however, provide the American people more context into just how reckless this reconciliation package truly is. You deserve an explanation on its long-term effects considering the economic burden of this consequential bill will fall on you, the taxpayer.