Fox host Laura Ingraham slams Sen. Bill Cassidy over infrastructure bill

Fox Information host Laura Ingraham and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) traded verbal blows on Ingraham’s prime-time program Monday evening over the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package deal presently being debated within the Senate.

After “The Ingraham Angle” host echoed small-government Republican complaints that the invoice is a “Computer virus” for enormous Democratic Get together spending initiatives, she requested Cassidy — one of many lead negotiators of the package deal — if he had read the 2,702-page bill.

“My employees and I’ve learn it completely,” Cassidy responded earlier than including: “And defending it, my gosh, why wouldn’t you need this, as one in all my colleagues stated?

“$110 billion for broken-down bridges, to interchange or to make ‘em higher, additionally to make ‘em safer,” the Louisianan added. “$65 billion to convey broadband in areas that do not need it, creating jobs alongside the best way. $16 billion for Military Corps of Engineers to handle coastal restoration points and different issues that place People prone to dropping their houses and their companies from floods. And by the best way, did I point out it creates a heck of numerous jobs?”

Democrats are hoping to pass a bigger $3.5 trillion finances decision by means of Congress with out Republican help. Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi has insisted that if the smaller infrastructure invoice passes the Senate, she won’t convey it to a vote till the higher chamber additionally passes the budget resolution by means of the parliamentary maneuver of reconciliation.

Cassidy drew Ingraham’s ire when he recommended that passing the bipartisan invoice would make it more durable for Pelosi to pressure by means of the $3.5 trillion finances decision.

“Pelosi needs to hyperlink the 2,” he stated. “She doesn’t suppose she has the votes for that $3.5 trillion.”

“Senator,” Ingraham requested incredulously, “are you on this present tonight saying that Nancy Pelosi hasn’t gamed out her votes?”

“She doesn’t suppose she has the votes on the $3.5 trillion,” Cassidy insisted. “She’s hoping to fold these collectively so she will be able to get it handed, and by the best way … Republicans in opposition to this invoice are attempting to assist Nancy Pelosi.”

At one other level within the section, Ingraham requested Cassidy: “Why not do what Pelosi did and say, ‘Present us your hand first, let’s see the complete textual content of your reconciliation invoice, all the things that’s in it’ … allow them to present their hand.

“However it acquired flipped, didn’t it?” the host requested. “You guys acquired performed on this. You needed to vote first, or agree first. They nonetheless haven’t proven the textual content of their laws, have they, sir?”

“The ironic factor is, you’re agreeing with the ‘Squad’ and Bernie [Sanders],” stated Cassidy, drawing a sarcastic, “Oh, yeah” from Ingraham.

“It’s wonderful,” he added. “You’re agreeing with Pelosi … If we sink this invoice, and also you marry them collectively, it’s [the budget resolution is] extra more likely to move. That’s simply what easy logic tells you. I’m not fairly following –“

“You don’t comply with?” Ingraham requested. “So that you don’t comply with The Wall Street Journal, National Review, yours really, any variety of folks on-line who’ve been writing about economics, like [commentator] Steve Moore, for like 35 years?”

After Cassidy repeated his insistence that passing the compromise invoice would make it more durable for Democrats to push extra spending, Ingraham advised him: “I do know you’re speaking loudly tonight since you’re attempting to be persuasive, however it’s simply not working.

“Once they move the $3.5 trillion, you going to return again on this present and say you have been mistaken?” she then requested.

“I’ll come again on this present, however although we make it much less attainable, if it nonetheless occurs someway that is accountable,” Cassidy shot again. “That logic is specious and you understand that.”

After Ingraham thanked Cassidy for becoming a member of her, she advised viewers: “I don’t suppose I’ve ever heard Senator Cassidy speak so loudly to Democrats earlier than, however I really like the truth that he did that with me.”