Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf’s attempt to blame a dramatic bridge collapse on Republican opposition to President Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill backfired spectacularly when it was pointed out his own party gutted the funds.
Ten people were injured when a decaying Pittsburgh bridge collapsed, just hours before Biden was scheduled to appear in the state to push infrastructure.
The bridge had been in poor condition for years, and at least one website listed it as “closed.”
Wolf was quick to use the near-tragedy to try and score political points.
“We shouldn’t have to rely on luck to keep people safe,” Wolf tweeted in a thread updating the public on the bridge collapse. “I’m thankful to @POTUS, @SenBobCasey, & Democrats in the Congressional delegation who fought for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These are life-changing investments in building and repairing our nation’s infrastructure.”
These are life-changing investments in building and repairing our nation’s infrastructure.
— Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) January 28, 2022
“Shame on the Republican lawmakers who didn’t support the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Pennsylvanian lives are on the line. It’s long past time for the political games to come to an end,” Wolf added, himself playing a political game.
But that backfired when commenters pointed out that not only would the bridge have not gotten any money under Biden’s plan, money intended to repair the bridge in 2016 was diverted to bike lanes and programs to push electric cars.
“The Pittsburgh bridge that collapsed early Friday, injuring 10 people, was in poor condition and not targeted for improvements under the federal infrastructure bill, state records show,” Washington’s NBC4 tweeted.
The Pittsburgh bridge that collapsed early Friday, injuring 10 people, was in poor condition and not targeted for improvements under the federal infrastructure bill, state records show. https://t.co/uQApefwkxE
— NBC4 Washington (@nbcwashington) January 29, 2022
“The bridge that just collapsed in the city of Pittsburgh was set to be restored in 2016. Instead of replacing the completely rusted out supports, they diverted the money to bike lanes, green energy programs and lanes for self driving cars,” a local resident tweeted, following up with photgraphs of the bridge’s rusted supports and feeble attempts at repairs.
The bridge that just collapsed in the city of Pittsburgh was set to be restored in 2016. Instead of replacing the completely rusted out supports, they diverted the money to bike lanes, green energy programs and lanes for self driving cars.
— 🅱️LACK (@libertyismetal) January 29, 2022
“Instead of replacing the support beams they used cables and diverted the money to woke sh-t,” he added.
Instead of replacing the support beams they used cables and diverted the money to woke shit pic.twitter.com/LAmNeiJIQT
— 🅱️LACK (@libertyismetal) January 29, 2022
Wolf has not apologized or explained why his party cut repair funds.
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Michael Brigham
Michael Brigham has written for American Action News since the summer of 2019. His areas of expertise include foreign affairs, government, and politics, but regardless of the subject matter, he has a nose and an insatiable appetite for news. In his free time, he enjoys reading nonfiction, watching a mix of comedies and true crime documentaries, and spending time away from the swamp hiking in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.
PA. collects among the highest gas taxes and there is no excuse for the neglect of roads and bridges from highly paid politicians. Pittsburgh is an old historic City and the taxes collected are really high. Another thing that is high is the corruption in the Democratic Party which controls most of the State and All of the largest Cities. The State is also notorious for the prevailing corruption and dishonest voter counts.
South Carolina,is in the same condition, concerning roads and bridges. The difference is the RINO Republicans have had control of both Gov Houses for Decades! A lot of the RINOS, had been Democrats who could not get elected as Democrats. They played the role of being Republicans, but were only for themselves!
FIX the damn bridge PA
Another lying roach governor from the east.
you forgot sleazebag
As I always say,,democrats are sick in the head on every level and need help from the government for help in getting treatment,,just when you think they can get any more stupid they prove us wrong,,,get help and get it covered by your Obama care asap
LISTEN UP….REPAIRS and REMODELING Needed to Be DONE in AMERICA YRS AGO in the 8 YRS OBAMA was PRESIDENT. The COMMANDER and CHIEFS Need to Get with the PROGRAM. WAKE UP!!!!! From SamuraiQueen. 😄😄😄😇😇😇
Some of these corrupt and also stupid democrats need to be dismissed with nothing short of jail time and forfeited retirement from the agency they misrepresented.
He neglects to fix the bridge and it is the republicans fault. Typical Demonrat…blame someone else for your mistakes.
Why was this not removed and rebuild when Obama was in office
Does anyone admit to voting for this POS?
Same scenario played out during the flood in New Orleans. President Bush gave monies to repair the dam and the Democrats spent it on “feel good” projects. When the dam broke, they blamed the Republicans. Same scenario, different location.
Democrats constantly lie and their stupid supporters go along with it.Hold the idiots responsible when they screw up. Most of democrat infrastructure money doesn’t go to fix roads and bridges.
Same old corrupt, lying Demosh*ts!
Let no crisis go to waste. DemoRat scum.
Once again an excellent example of Democommie lies, deflection, and deception. Trust in the Democommies at your own peril, vote for Democommies at your own demise.
Calling wolf, wolf, is an embarrassment to wolves.
A swine in wolf’s clothing?
Not one of the Reen Deals pan out but it was a Democrat Lead Legislature and Governor that diverted the funds that were to be used to destroy the Bridge it is sad that they can’t remember their own fiascos. They are the Intolerant, Racist, Woke, Communist Zombieis that hate everthingbAmerican.
What kind of fool would hamstring himself first day in office? Ending the Keystone Pipeline, and the total impact that had on our economy was and is devastating! Like it or not, the USA will be dependent on fossil fuels for at least another 100 years! It is and will remain the main driver in our economy! Everyone and everything depends on it, so why shut it down?
Our Infrastructure is in obvious decay too! I blame the States on this one! There is way too much corruption and infighting earmarking pet projects for their donors! When a bridge is built, it should be put on a Preventative Maintenance program that will insure it receives the periodic improvements and upgrades it needs to ensure the Taxpayers Safety that travel on these structures! All this gets lost in the Politics and really is quite apalling! That is where it all goes wrong! Money is diverted by the powerful, changed by those fortunate few that seem to control way too much! In the end, we have what we see today! An over aged and obsolete infrastructure system! Wasting money on green energy is not the answer either! Like it or not, Mother Earth knows a lot more about controlling it’s own destiny, then we ever knew! When it’s time for the next Ice Age, there will be nothing that any of us can do to stop it! So stop with that nonsense!
Electric vehicles cost way too much and the needed infrastructure is not worth the investment! No way I would buy a EV! That is a liberal pipe dream that will cost trillions that we don’t have to waste! Our political system is a total failure for taking care of the American Public! They are all in it for personal gain and self enrichment! A broken system that seems to only get worse! Our present liberal direction is and will be a catastrophic one! We have no leadership and no positive victories! All political smash and grab! We must turn this ship around before it’s too late! Liberals spew hate with CRT and divisive hate America agenda! To be Religious is a sin and all that has to change! We need to clean house and soon! “America First” is the battle cry and our present leadership has none of that!!
Those injured in the collapse should sue the politicians for diverting those funds. If they start paying for their subterfuge.
Maby the governor can ride his bike over the bridge that is not there.
what a mutt
You don’t actually expect Libocratards to take responsibility for Stealing the Repair money for the bridge do you ?, they have the highest gas taxes, the highest road tolls, and they Still Steal and Embezzle the money,…. and stories i just read say that they didn’t even have this bridge on the repairs list,…. which means there are several hundred OTHER Bridges In serious need of repairs,…. watch yo’ arse while you get rid of the libocratards ,…. maybe you need some of our Reps? after all we built all new bridges over the last twenty years,…. and you can bet NASTY Peeloser didn’t vote Texas ANY infrastructure money
Just look at PA’s toll roads, US highways controlled by the state, that are way too narrow for the traffic, POORLY maintained, have very limited ingress/egress sending you many miles out of the way, claustrophobic tunnels, exceptionally high gasoline cost, outrageous parking fees, trains that backup traffic for miles, … and you KNOW somebody’s taking all the money allocated for repairs. You have to wonder.
Wait a minute – NBC News called BS on a Democrat liar??!! That news rep has probably been terminated by now.
Impeach 46
Let’s Go Brandon
Defund the FBI
How pathetic, another lying dumbocrap, that always has to blame someone else.
Biden/Bama must be put to death for this!