By Blake Haas
BLOOMINGTON – As Democrats from across the country continue to debate President Biden’s Build Back Better plan, a central Illinois Congressman says now is not the time to pass the massive bill as the nation faces mounting debt.
U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap) told WJBC’s Scott Miller this is “not the time or place” to pass the bill when the country is in debt over $29 trillion.
“I’d love to think about doing all these things that they want to do, including federal family medical leave if we had $29 trillion in surplus money, but we’re $29 trillion in debt, and that’s the reality.”
If passed, the $1.7 trillion bill would provide funding for childcare and preschool’s, immigration, clean energy, and climate investments. The new $1.75 trillion pricetags are down from the proposed $3.5 trillion plan.
“It’s all more government spending. And again, I’m happy to debate the merit, and I’m all for helping people that are down on their luck; maybe they have a health issue, maybe it’s a disability. But to think we are going to start brand new programs that are going to basically turn these things into entitlement.
The problem with the federal government is that once you turn these things on, the spicket of the federal government, they never get shut off,” added LaHood, who announced launched his reelection campaign on Friday.
President Biden’s proposed framework includes over $550 billion earmarked for the climate crisis and $320 billion to expand clean energy tax credits.
According to a White House news release, the agenda would be paid for by raising corporate tax from 21% to 26%. In addition, the President is proposing the country raise the capital gains tax from 20% to 25%.
Blake Haas can be reached at Blake.Haas@Cumulus.com
