US Rep. Andy Barr voted against the infrastructure bill. Then he asked for the money.
.JPG "Intersection of Broadway and New Circle Road in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022.")
When the U.S. Department of Transportation confirmed last week the city of Lexington would receive nearly $22 million for the reconstruction of New Circle Road, Congressman Andy Barr announced he was honored to support the application.
But when the infrastructure bill that authorized those funds came to a vote two years ago, the Kentucky Republican was an emphatic “no.”
Touting the arrival of federal money that they voted against has become a common maneuver for numerous Republican lawmakers. It’s a clever way to cede to party line wishes in Washington while still keeping beneficiaries happy at home.
In 2021, Lexington’s GOP congressman labeled the Biden administration’s infrastructure plan a “big government highway bill” that would “restrict the construction of new roads and bridges” due to mandates and spending.
Without Barr’s vote, but with Mitch McConnell’s backing, the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure bill cleared Congress and was signed into law.
But when Lexington officials submitted in the summer an application for a slice of the funding, Barr was happy to provide a letter of support.
“I am writing in support of Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG)‘s request for funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program,” Barr wrote to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a letter dated Aug. 21, 2023.
“This project will enable Lexington to rebuild a portion of the New Circle Road, reduce injuries, and promote successful and accessible neighborhoods. I am supporting LFUCG’s efforts because of the impact this project will have on my constituents in Lexington, KY.”
Suddenly, a bill he characterized as part of a “big government socialist” agenda meant new intersections, new pedestrian signals, better lighting and improved transit stops for a thoroughfare in his district.
“I was honored to support the City of Lexington’s grant application and will continue to advocate for improved infrastructure across the Sixth Congressional District,” Barr said in a statement released by McConnell’s office last week.
A personal push from a member of Congress isn’t imperative to secure the pool of money, but it always helps when competing against hundreds of other localities, according to Chris Evilia, Lexington’s transportation planning manager.
“You’ll find nationwide that congressmen – regardless of what side of the aisle they’re on – they still want to support funding for their areas,” Evilia said.
Barr isn’t the only Republican heaping praise on money that wouldn’t have been available if the vote went his way.
Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota called the legislation a “socialist wish list” before submitting a similar request for highway funding for his district.
“It’s remarkable to see so many members of Congress who bashed President Biden’s infrastructure law two years ago now standing up to praise the investments in their communities, made possible by the very law they tried to vote down,” said Sean Manning, a Department of Transportation spokesman.
“Our department welcomes the newfound support.”
A spokesman with Barr’s office said the congressman would “always support worthy grant applications on behalf of his constituents,” but opposed environmental provisions included in the infrastructure bill that he viewed as a giveaway to the green energy industry.
The $22 million will be reimbursed to the city by the federal government over time. Lexington has about five years to complete the New Circle Road project, once the contract is signed for the work next spring or summer.
Correction: The original version of the story listed a different example of another Republican who voted against the infrastructure bill.
This story was originally published December 18, 2023 at 7:16 AM with the headline "US Rep. Andy Barr voted against the infrastructure bill. Then he asked for the money.."
