LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Rep. John Yarmuth, Kentucky’s lone Democrat in Congress, criticized Republicans for only offering an “inadequate” counter-offer to President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan.

What You Need To Know

  • Rep. John Yarmuth said the Republican's counter-offer on infrastructure was "inadequate."

  • He called out Sen. Mitch McConnell, who said President Biden's plan isn’t focused enough on infrastructure

  • President Biden’s plan includes two separate proposals: the $2.3 trillion American Jobs Plan and the $1.8 billion American Families Plan

  • Republicans countered with a $568 billion plan, but Yarmuth pointed out much of the GOP's plan has already been approved

Yarmuth was speaking at Assumption High School after awarding the two winners of his congressional art contest. He specifically called out Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who said the president’s plan isn’t focused enough on infrastructure.

“Sen. McConnell’s view of infrastructure is an 18th century one, it’s not a 21st-century one,” Yarmuth said.

Biden’s plan includes two separate proposals: the $2.3 trillion American Jobs Plan and the $1.8 billion American Families Plan.

Republicans countered with a $568 billion plan, but Yarmuth pointed out much of the GOP's plan has already been approved.

“The Republican offer, their suggestion, which actually is only $189 billion in new money, is totally inadequate to do what we have to do for the American people and for the future of our economy,” Yarmuth said.

Part of Biden’s plan relies on increasing corporate taxes, rolling back a 2017 tax bill pushed by former President Donald Trump.

Yarmuth said it’s worth looking into, although he also said the country could fund Biden's plan without new funding sources.

“Certainly, looking to companies like FedEx, like Amazon, whose entire business is built on infrastructure, is dependent upon infrastructure, and who pays zero in federal income tax, I think it’s fair to look at them for contributions to what makes their entire existence possible,” Yarmuth said.

One thing Kentucky’s top lawmakers from both parties agree on is money needs to go to the Brent Spence Bridge.

Yarmuth said there’s a $25 billion fund in Biden’s plan for major regional projects.  

“I would suspect that significant amounts, if not all of the cost of redoing the Brent Spence Bridge would be included in the $25 billion,” Yarmuth said.

There’s no real indication of how big the overall price tag for infrastructure will end up being.

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