Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn) was both scathing and blunt in recent criticism of his party’s tardiness when it comes to fiscal management. At a breakfast hosted by the Christian Science Monitor last Wednesday, Corker berated his party in no uncertain terms:
So incredibly irresponsible, total failure, abdication of leadership, and again, a definition of conservatism is now becoming spending the same amount of money but just not paying for it.
Given Corker’s reputation for lying to constituents when it suits him, it was surprising to see such honesty, angry honesty, on full display.
We’re becoming the party of, you know, what conservatism means is spending almost the same amount of money, in some cases more, but not paying for it and that’s conservatism today. It’s just not the conservatism that I grew up with.
At 63, Corker is certainly old enough to remember several decades of woeful Republican economic decisions yet it’s only now that he’s noticing how incompetent they are? Oh well, better late than never and honesty is always refreshing even when it is gobsmackingly surprising because it emanates from Republicans.
So what issue has prompted this tongue-lashing? Clamber over the orange roadworks barrier for a view of the wretchedly pitted and pot-holed problem.
Corker’s infuriation arises from his party’s response to the looming crisis that surrounds refinancing the Highway Trust Fund which he refers to as the Senate majority’s “first test”. While Corker's concern is with the optics of his party's complete lack of competence in governing, the real crisis is in the potential effects nationwide. Their utter failure to extend funding for the nation’s roads, bridges, and transit systems places all current and future infrastructure projects at risk and renders the future uncertain for 700,000 workers in well-paying jobs.
Though his colleagues are showing no sense of urgency about the May 31 deadline, Corker is incensed by their indecision and inaction within two weeks of fiscal disaster. “We’re going to kick the can down the road,” he said. He should have added the word “again”.
Less than a year ago in August 2014, Congress faced this same looming crisis. Democrats wanted to raise the gas tax (which has remained at 18c since 1993) or close tax loopholes to provide the necessary funds. Republicans would have none of it. Their idea was to further slash the social safety net to pay for it. Both sides knew that was never going to happen.
The impasse came at a critical time, right before Congress was due to break for midterm campaigning, a break that would last all the way up to the election. Rather than risk missing the deadline for refunding, both sides opted to kick the can down the road. The Highway Trust Fund was given just enough to extend the expiry date to May 31 this year.
As Huff Post’s report noted, neither chamber of Congress has offered a concrete plan.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) has been in talks with his GOP colleagues for weeks regarding a possible short-term patch for the fund, but the parties have not agreed on a funding source.
Other Republicans, like Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), want to keep pressure on Congress to get a six-year extension of the funding, but again, disagreement on the precise funding mechanism is holding up legislation.
Inhofe hopes to hold a mark up on a six-year extension bill in June. They’ve had five months to deal with this issue and now they’re rushing to get something in place at some unspecified time a month
after the expiry date. Corker is right. They are going to kick the can down the road – again. Already up to six states have placed plans for transportation projects on hold and more are expected to follow.
With so many jobs on the line and the safety of millions of Americans placed at risk, Corker’s prediction is a chilling one:
The writing is on the wall. I will be stunned if Republicans deal with the Highway Trust Fund responsibly. It’s not going to happen.
Corker's assessment of his own party is a grim omen for all crucial legislation in the 114
th Session as Republicans dig a wider and deeper hole for themselves.