Topline
Republican lawmakers have used the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore to attack Democrats for issues frequently targeted by the right, while some have indicated they’ll resist President Joe Biden’s call for the federal government to pay for the estimated $2 billion reconstruction cost.
Key Facts
Some Republicans have suggested they will be hard-pressed to approve funding for the bridge repairs: Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pa., said Thursday it was “outrageous” for Biden to suggest the federal government would pay for reconstruction, adding that Maryland should tap federal funds for electric vehicle infrastructure to cover the costs (Maryland will receive $63 million over the next five years for electric vehicle charging, according to the Maryland Department of Transportation).
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., speaking about the bridge collapse, incorrectly told Newsmax on Tuesday the bipartisan infrastructure law passed in 2021 “was mostly Green New Deal,” claiming that of the $110 billion allocated to surface transportation, $70 billion went to public transportation, leaving “only $40 billion for traditional roads and bridges.”
While Biden called on the federal government to cover the entirety of the repairs, the Transportation Department’s emergency relief program outlines a plan in which the federal government pays 90% and the state pays the remaining 10%, though Congress will likely need to approve supplemental funding to pay the full $2 billion price tag, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told reporters Wednesday, noting the emergency relief account balance is at about $950 million.
According to a White House fact sheet on the infrastructure bill, $110 billion was allocated to repair roads and bridges and support major projects, and $39 billion was set aside separately for investments to modernize transit, part of $89.9 billion total in guaranteed public transit funding over five years.
Other Republicans have also used the bridge collapse to attack the left on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives—Utah state Rep. Phil Lyman, who is running for governor, tweeted “this is what happens when you have Governors who prioritize diversity over the wellbeing and security of citizens,” adding “DEI=DIE,” and suggesting, without evidence, DEI initiatives diverted Maryland lawmakers’ focus away from infrastructure needs.
Crucial Quote
“What we do know is a bridge like this one completed in the 1970s was simply not made to withstand a direct impact on a critical support pier from a vessel that weighs about 200 million pounds, orders of magnitude bigger than cargo ships that were in service in that region at the time that the bridge was first built,” Buttigieg said.
Tangent
Right-wing provocateurs have spread a string of conspiracy theories about the reason for the bridge collapse. Andrew Tate, a self-declared misogynist facing human trafficking and rape charges in Romania, suggested the bridge was “cyber attacked,” in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, an idea echoed by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who posted on X “Looks deliberate to me. A cyber-attack is probable. WW3 has already started.” Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and the FBI have said there is no evidence of a terror attack.
Key Background
The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early Tuesday when a cargo ship, the Dali, crashed into the bridge shortly after departing the Port of Baltimore. The Dali issued a mayday call moments earlier, reporting it had lost power, allowing authorities to block traffic on the bridge. Seven construction workers and an inspector were on the bridge at the time. Two were pulled from the Patapsco River alive, divers recovered two bodies Wednesday, and the other four victims are still missing and presumed dead. Recovery efforts for the remaining four victims were put on pause Wednesday amid dangerous diving conditions, as authorities have directed their attention to salvaging the wreckage.
Surprising Fact
Within days of the I-35W Bridge collapse in Minneapolis in 2007, Congress approved a $250 million relief package that then-President George W. Bush promptly signed into law. At the time, Democrats controlled both chambers of Congress, making it easier to pass legislation than under the current gridlock, in which Republicans control the House by a slim majority and Democrats hold the Senate majority.
What To Watch For
Maryland will almost immediately be able to access federal emergency relief funds to pay for early recovery costs, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., told the Washington Post on Thursday. The state has already requested an initial $60 million payment for the cleanup efforts, while the Maryland state legislature is planning to request additional federal funds for the rebuild, though it would have to pass both chambers of Congress, where Republicans like Mace and Meuser are signaling roadblocks. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen also floated the possibility that money from the infrastructure law could be used to help pay for the bridge in an MSNBC interview Wednesday, adding that insurance will also likely help cover the costs.
Further Reading
Baltimore Bridge Collapse: Here’s What We Know About The 6 Missing Workers Now Presumed Dead (Forbes)
Baltimore Bridge Collapse Sparks Wild Conspiracies — Though Officials Continue To Dispel Them (Forbes)
