Republican critics of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have frequently complained that he appears to be too cozy with Democrats — and the Biden administration in particular. A political event in his home state this week will likely fuel even more accusations.
President Joe Biden announced his intention to travel to northern Kentucky on Wednesday to highlight the roughly $1 trillion infrastructure bill that passed in Congress in 2021 with bipartisan support. McConnell was named as one of the elected officials who will be joining the president for the event.
Other politicians from Kentucky and neighboring Ohio who were slated to join Biden include Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, and GOP Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.
Specifically, the group plans to tout the $1.6 billion included in the infrastructure bill for constructing another bridge to accompany the frequently congested Brent Spence Bridge that crosses the Ohio River between the two states. Along with fellow GOP Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, McConnell was instrumental in securing the funds for what he said “will be one of the bill’s crowning accomplishments.”
News of Biden’s trip to Kentucky surfaced as he was enjoying his latest vacation, spending the holiday weekend with first lady Jill Biden in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Joe Biden is spotted in public for the first time on his vacation to the Virgin Islands as he played a round of golf.
Biden has spent 280 days of his presidency on vacation. pic.twitter.com/gOuU6LygWk
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) December 30, 2022
As the new legislative session gets underway and Republicans regain control of the House of Representatives, the White House is clearly focused on painting the first two years of the Biden administration as a success. Whether the president decides to seek a second term or not, his record will be a major factor for voters in the 2024 election.
According to one White House spokesperson, administration officials will be scheduling trips across the nation to make the claim that Biden’s “economic plan is rebuilding our infrastructure, creating good-paying jobs — jobs that don’t require a four-year degree, and revitalizing communities left behind.”
Among those scheduled to make the case for Biden this week are Vice President Kamala Harris, who will be in Chicago, Illinois, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who is planning a trip to New London, Connecticut.
Of course, both of those top administration figures are facing their own controversies. A new tell-all book rehashes claims that Harris is seen as unqualified for her role and critics on both sides of the aisle have assailed Buttigieg’s response to widespread flight cancellations by Southwest Airlines.
