There is a long history of people in politics taking credit for things they aren’t responsible for: Ask any President during good economic times who is responsible for the boom and they will be sure to shoulder the responsibility, even if factors beyond their control pumped up the prosperity.
But Texas Senator John Cornyn takes this political commonplace to a new level when he share-boasted on a Texas Tribune article that celebrates Texas getting “$3.3 billion in federal funds to boost broadband expansion efforts.”
Because Cornyn isn’t merely not responsible for the federal money that made this happen, he actually voted against the legislation — President Joe Biden’s 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — that provides the funds to his state, which will get more money from the Biden plan than any other state in the nation.
Texas to receive $3.3 billion in federal funds to boost broadband expansion efforts https://t.co/gh3TWP8dd3 via @TexasTribune
— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) June 27, 2023
His sharing of the article makes clear that Cornyn understands that rural Texas will be one of the main beneficiaries of the Biden administration program to fill in the communication/connection gaps all over the country. Investing in broadband has become essential to economic competitiveness in our increasingly digital society — and that means on ranches and farms as much as in Houston and Austin.
Almost 2.8 million Texas households and 7 million people lack broadband access in the Lone Star State.
Despite Sen. Cornyn’s vote against the legislation that provides the critical infrastructure money, the Biden administration was able to get 19 Republicans — including Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell — to vote in favor of the bill so that the money could get to Texas anyway. Both Cornyn and fellow Texas Senator Ted Cruz voted “Nay.”
Yes, and @JohnCornyn voted against it. https://t.co/HMBxNPv8i5
— Steven Pifer (@steven_pifer) June 27, 2023
As the Tribune reports: “The money will be distributed from the $42.45 billion in the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program as part of President Joe Biden’s 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The funds aim to connect more than 8.5 million households and small businesses nationwide… Each state received at least $107 million.”
.jpg){kind=link}