Letter to the Editor: Clean water, safe roads, efficient infrastructure benefits of bill no current Republicans wanted for Illinois

lllinois has needs. Immediate needs.

Some things we can all agree on.  We can agree the 2,423 Illinois bridges and 6,137 miles of Illinois highways in poor condition need fixing. We can agree lead pipes should not deliver drinking water to any Illinois homes.

I am sure we can agree public transportation does great good for those not fortunate enough to have cars. I am sure we all support upgrades to our electric grid, assuring we all receive the electricity we need every day.  We all benefit from ports and waterways being maintained to assure we have access to the goods we need.

All of this is being attended to today because of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.  

Only one Illinois Republican in Washington supported this. Only one Illinois Republican saw a need to assure safe roads, bridges or drinking water. Only one Illinois Republican supported an efficient electric grid or working ports. However, Republicans do support $16.5 billion in subsidies to fossil fuel companies.

Oh yeah, that one Illinois Republican was forced out of office by all the other Republicans because he did the right thing. 

Almost every Democrat supported the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

As we just passed the two-year anniversary of the passage of the act, it is important to remember the Democrats’ priorities included clean water, safe roads and efficient infrastructure — oh, plus expanded high speed internet access for small businesses.

These are among the many benefits of the bill that no current Republicans wanted for anybody in Illinois.  The bill that most all Democrats in Washington made sure got passed.  

It’s a matter of which party has your back. 

Richard Vogel
Quincy, Illinois