Transportation Secretary Buttigieg says budget, transportation bills benefit Minnesota

President Joe Biden’s administration deployed cabinet members to promote the "Build Back Better" budget bill and the infrastructure bill as Democrats in Congress continue to struggle to get the votes to pass either measure.

"Where we are now is at the threshold of making history," U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS on Friday via a Zoom interview from Washington. "We are closer than we have ever been to delivering two critically important packages of legislation. ‘Build Back Better’ would mean an extension of the child tax credit, that is thousands of dollars for most families with children in this country. Free pre-school for 3- and 4-year-olds. Affordable child care, which we have been talking about for such a long time. In-home care for people with elderly or disabled loved ones."

Buttigieg was promoting passage of that bill because progressive Democrats in the House have been saying for months they won’t pass the infrastructure bill he’s been working on until the larger budget bill passes. The $1.85 trillion budget bill faces unified Republican opposition in the House and Senate.

"I do think, of course, this would be easier if more Republicans were willing to come on board," Buttigieg said. "They did for the infrastructure bill, at least in the Senate. I hope the same will happen in the House because you shouldn’t have to be a Democrat to believe in improving our roads and bridges and airports. But also I would challenge Republicans to consider voting for our pro-family legislation. I don’t know why Republicans would vote against a tax cut for working families. I don’t know why Republicans would vote against home care or child care. It’s not too late for them to come on board. I know they probably won’t but I sure hope that they will because I think it’s the right thing to do."

As for the transportation bill, Buttigieg says it would provide $4.5 billion to Minnesota for roads and bridges along with $815 million for public transit.

"In fact, this is the biggest investment that the federal government ever will have made in transit at a time when we know it’s so important for economic growth," he said. "We estimate that at least $818 million will come to Minnesota alone for purposes of transit. And that’s our biggest cities, but also small communities, rural transit, where it can be a real lifeline for a lot of residents."

He acknowledges there is skepticism from many Republicans after public transit usage plummeted during the pandemic, but he’s confident ridership will increase as life returns to normal.

"That’s right, transit took a real blow, especially in those early months of the pandemic, which is why the American Rescue Plan was so important, saving routes, saving service and saving jobs," Buttigieg said. "Look, the future of commuting will look different than the past, but one thing that’s not going to change is people need to get around…"

As of early Friday evening, Democratic leaders were still trying to get the votes necessary to pass the infrastructure bill after efforts to pass the budget bill stalled.

You can see more of the interview with Buttigieg on "At Issue with Tom Hauser" Sunday morning at 10 a.m.