President Biden vowed Tuesday to rebuild Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge after it collapsed into the water when a cargo ship rammed into it, echoing what some Maryland officials said earlier b…
President Biden vowed Tuesday to rebuild Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge after it collapsed into the water when a cargo ship rammed into it, echoing what some Maryland officials said earlier but adding that he expects the federal government to foot the bill.
“It’s my intention that the federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge, and I expect the Congress to support my effort,” Biden said in remarks at the White House. “This is going to take some time, but the people of Baltimore can count on us though to stick with them at every step of the way until the port is reopen and the bridge is rebuilt.”
He said he spoke with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) on Tuesday morning, as well as Maryland officials including its congressional delegation and two U.S. senators. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg traveled to the Baltimore site.
Yes, but ascertaining liability and securing a payout is a process that may take many years of being dragged through the courts, if it is even successful at all.
The government making money available immediately does help get things going with less uncertainty about who can foot the bill.
We have two nearby tunnels. They'll be packed now. But hazmat trucks and larger oversized vehicles can't go through tunnels. There's also a longer way around the northwest of the city, but that'll be crowded now too. That's where everyone lives. The bridge over the river was the interstate trucking corridor from DC to Philly up to New York and Boston.
Well, axchually... toll roads and bridges are a thing. Even if they're built by a gov't that recoups its' costs, I'd say that counts as a user-pay situation.
If not, do you want to wait 20 years until the lawsuits against the shipping companies (yes, plural) are all done and appeals finished before you can extract a few million to cover part of the multiple hundred millions a rebuild will cost?
“It’s my intention that the federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge, and I expect the Congress to support my effort,” Biden said in remarks at the White House. “This is going to take some time, but the people of Baltimore can count on us though to stick with them at every step of the way until the port is reopen and the bridge is rebuilt.”
Any minute now... Just like his other "vows".
Also, crazy how the headline makes it sound sure to happen, and his actual statement is filled with weasel words.
Give politicians credit for what they do, not for they "vow" to do.
Give politicians credit for what they do, not for they “vow” to do.
Good point, and there's a lot of credit to give to Biden on the economy, judges, infrastructure, and even some steps on climate change. So yeah, I think this bridge will probably be rebuilt as he said.
But you're right- we know that because of what he's done, not what he says. Always good to keep that in mind.
The quick list is biggest single action on climate change in US history, estimated to hit a 40% reduction in emissions by 2030, $144 billion forgiveness of student loan debt, lowest unemployment in 20 years (or 50 depending on how you count) even after the Covid apocalypse which most countries haven't even dug out from yet, wage inequality going down for the first time in I have no idea how long, Amazon paying $3 billion per quarter in corporate tax instead of the negative $1.2 billion they were paying before his corporate tax reform.
He vowed / attempted to do a certain amount more than that, yes, and getting that more stuff done also would be great too, but it's not like he's just been fucking off playing golf this whole time.
For what reason the news doesn't highlight that type of stuff and instead focuses on whatever they focus on, I have no idea.
For what reason the news doesn’t highlight that type of stuff and instead focuses on whatever they focus on, I have no idea.
Easy, they want outrage. Biden following through on some mundane promise made some time ago riles up exactly no one, therefore it doesn't get a headline. Modern media is extremely predictable in their approach.