Nick Begich Opposed The Infrastructure Investment And Jobs Act, Which Brought $3 Billion To Alaska In A Year

Begich Opposed The Infrastructure And Jobs Act. Moderator: “Do you support the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act from November 2021?” In response, Begich held up a sign reading, “No.” [YouTube, Anchorage Daily News, [24:26], 8/31/22] (VIDEO)

• Begich Called For Extending The Federal Infrastructure Spending Included In ‘The Infrastructure Bill.’ Begich: “Well, the worker shortage has been and will continue to be exacerbated by the federal infrastructure’s overspending. Federal, state, and local governments already spent half a trillion dollars a year annually on infrastructure, but the additional spending that has been unlocked threatens to re-prioritize local spending priorities and exacerbate the worker shortage. I think we need to extend the infrastructure bill spending so it doesn’t have such a negative effect on the real economy, on the worker shortage, and that it’s not inflationary to local industry.” [YouTube, Anchorage Daily News, [12:25], 8/31/22] (VIDEO)

Begich Criticized The $1.2 Trillion Federal Infrastructure Bill Because “Alaska Got Less Than 1% Of The Bill.” “Republican House candidate Nick Begich the Third is also borrowing from the Political Math For Dummies handbook in claiming a per-acre basis is the way to decide what is fair. They are claiming that because Alaska has nearly one-fifth of the land mass of the U.S., it should get nearly one-fifth of federal spending.’Alaska got less than 1% of the bill,’ Begich the Third told the Juneau Empire. ‘Alaska got shortchanged in the bill.’ ‘On a per-acre basis we got the least of anyone,’ Begich III said.” [Dermot Cole, Reporting From Alaska, 10/29/22]

Begich Opposed The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Because He Said It Was “Packed Full Of Green New Deal (Programs).” “Only Begich said he wouldn’t have voted to support the recent bipartisan infrastructure law passed by Congress. ‘I believe that this bill was packed full of Green New Deal (programs),’ Begich said. The Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act, also know as the bipartisan infrastructure law, will spend over $1 trillion nationwide, mostly in competitive grants for infrastructure projects. That bill was negotiated by a partisan group of U.S. Senators, including Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R- Alaska, who was able to secure several provisions favorable to Alaska, such as funding for ferry service in rural areas.” [Juneau Empire, 5/17/22]

Begich Criticized Don Young For Supporting The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law And Said It “Had Enormous Amounts Of Wasteful Spending.” “‘Don Young has rarely seen a spending program that he doesn’t like,’ Begich told the Empire in a phone interview Wednesday. ‘There’s just been no fiscal discipline.’ Begich cited the recent $1.3 trillion infrastructure bill, which he said had enormous amounts of wasteful spending that would burden future generations by increasing the national debt. Alaska received benefits from the bill, Begich said, but there was a missed opportunity to make Alaska the leading edge of future energy transition. ‘Alaska got less than 1% of the bill,’ he said. ‘Alaska got shortchanged in the bill.’ Because the infrastructure bill was about building a platform for development, Begich said the state should have received a higher portion due to its size.” [Juneau Empire, 12/1/21]

Begich Described The Infrastructure Bill As “A Bill I Didn’t Agree With.” “The infrastructure bill, so-called, was loaded with a whole bunch of things called ‘human infrastructure,’ which was Don Young’s bill in the House. It was a bill I didn’t agree with. It didn’t have enough infrastructure in it. Infrastructure is supposed to open areas up that weren’t previously open. You look at the amount awarded to Alaska under the infrastructure bill, you’ll see we got less per acre than any other state.” [YouTube, Michael Dukes Show, 4/1/24]

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Provided “More Than $5 Billion Of Investment That Will Flow Into Alaska”

Kati Capozzi, President & CEO Of Alaska Chamber: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Provided “More Than $5 Billion Of Investment That Will Flow Into Alaska.” “‘For decades, Alaska has been in desperate need of meaningful infrastructure investment. The Alaska Chamber applauds our entire congressional delegation for voting yes on the historic bipartisan infrastructure bill. The more than $5 billion of investment that will flow into Alaska will positively impact hundreds of thousands of Alaskans, create good-paying jobs, and catapult economic growth crucial to building Alaska’s future. Alaskans rely on roads, ports, ferries, bridges, airports, railways, and broadband to keep our communities connected. We thank Senator Murkowski for her leadership in crafting a truly bipartisan bill and ensuring Alaska’s unique infrastructure needs were not forgotten throughout the process.’-Kati Capozzi, President & CEO of Alaska Chamber.” [Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Press Release, 11/15/21]

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Authorized “Roughly $3.5 Billion In Highway Funding” And $225 Million “In Funding For Bridge Construction, Maintenance And Repair” For Alaska. “Alaska Highlights in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act […] Authorizes $273 billion in Federal-aid highway formula funding that will provide roughly $3.5 billion in highway funding for Alaska over five years to construct, rebuild, and maintain its roads and highways. […] Provides $40 billion in funding for bridge construction, maintenance and repair. Of that, $27.5 billion will be apportioned by formula to ensure every state’s bridges are provided with needed resources, and Alaska should receive $225 million to address more than 140 bridges considered to be ‘structurally deficient.’” [Sen. Lisa Murkowski, accessed 9/7/22]

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Invested “Over $1.25 Billion For Broadband Infrastructure Across” Alaska. “Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, was a key figure in passing the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Along with fellow Republicans, Rep. Don Young and Sen. Dan Sullivan, she highlighted that the Legislature, tribes and local communities will need to apply for grants and compete against other states for billions of dollars of funding. […] Estimating how much Alaska will receive from the bill over the next five years is difficult as it will depend on the grants Alaska receives. Sullivan said some estimates are that Alaska could get between $7 billion and $8 billion. He highlighted some key areas in the bill: […] Over $1.25 billion for broadband infrastructure across the state.” [KTUU/KYES, 2/7/22]

Independent U.S. House Candidate Gregg Brelsford: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Invested In “The Port Of Alaska, Through Which Flows 90% Of Goods Consumed By Alaskans.” “The Republican candidates, and all Alaskans, should be more alarmed by Begich’s condemnation of Young for voting for the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure bill that is bringing billions of urgently needed dollars to Alaska. As a recent manager of the Bristol Bay Borough and the city of Dillingham (interim), I know firsthand the immeasurable value this money brings to Alaska for broadband, sewers, roads and ports. This includes helping the Port of Alaska, through which flows 90% of goods consumed by Alaskans. And it means jobs for thousands of Alaskans.” [Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Gregg Brelsford, Letter-to-the-Editor, 4/30/22]

Alaska Received $6.39 Billion In Infrastructure Payments, Amounting To $8,700 Per Person, The Highest Per Capita Investment In The US

Alaska Received $6.39 Billion In Infrastructure Payments, Amounting To $8,700 Per Person, The Highest Per Capita Investment In The US. “Increased oil and gas revenue is not the only way that the federal government has become more Alaska-friendly since 2020. Since the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was passed with bipartisan support in 2021, more than $6.39 billion has been invested in Alaska’s deteriorating infrastructure. This comes out to $8,700 per Alaskan, the highest per capita investment among all 50 states. This includes critical investments in roads, bridges, broadband, water and wastewater, energy, airports, the Alaska Marine Highway, and port investments. Furthermore, during the three years of the Biden administration Alaska has received $65.9 billion in investment through federal spending. In the entirety of the Trump administration, this investment totaled $36.2 billion. These recent investments reflect the belief of our government that Alaska is vitally important to the geopolitical and economic future of the country.” [Anchorage Daily News, 12/22/23]

Self-Proclaimed “Hard-Infrastructure” Supporter Begich Argued That The Infrastructure Bill Contained Too Much “Wasteful Spending”

Begich Opposed The Infrastructure Investment And Jobs Act, Calling It “Wasteful Spending.” “Begich cited the recent $1.3 trillion infrastructure bill, which he said had enormous amounts of wasteful spending that would burden future generations by increasing the national debt. Alaska received benefits from the bill, Begich said, but there was a missed opportunity to make Alaska the leading edge of future energy transition.” [Juneau Empire, 12/1/21]

Begich Emphasized Restraint In Infrastructure Spending, And Referred To Federal Spending As Separate From The “Real Economy.” “As a Congress, we have a sacred responsibility to ensure that funds deployed to infrastructure are invested wisely and in ways that produce a clear and compelling return to the American taxpayer. We must be careful to ensure that such investments do not distort the real economy, displace pre-existing priorities by reprioritizing limited sources of labor or materials, and consider a maintenance model that sustains the initial investment over its useful life. As a supporter of hard infrastructure investments, I believe we must continue to prioritize funding that will allow Alaska to deliver on its important national roles, including food security through our fisheries, national security, energy security, and minerals security.” [Juneau Empire, 8/12/22]

Begich Claimed He Opposed The Infrastructure Investment And Jobs Act Because It Gave Alaska Less Than 1% Of The Bill- But Alaska Only Had 0.2% Of The US Population. “Alaska got less than 1% of the bill,” Begich III told the Juneau Empire. “Alaska got shortchanged in the bill.” While Alaska had 0.2% of the US population, the Infrastructure Investment And Jobs Act would have allocated 0.6% of the funding to Alaska. Begich and Senate candidate Kelly Tshibaka argued that Alaska should receive 18% of the funding in the Infrastructure Investment And Jobs Act because the state comprised 18% of the landmass in the US. [Reporting From Alaska, 10/27/22]

• Alaska Had Received The Highest Per-Capita Funding Of Any State From The Infrastructure Investment And Jobs Act. “This was the largest infrastructure investment in 70 years. We are receiving more per-capita funding than any other state, which is a testament to the effectiveness of our current congressional delegation.” [Anchorage Daily News, 12/20/23]

2022: Begich Implied He Supported The Infrastructure Investment And Jobs Act, But Expressed Concern That Funding Wasn’t Focused On “Hard” Or “Long Term” Infrastructure Projects. “I am strongly supportive of real, hard infrastructure for Alaska. While this bill contained within it a number of green-new-deal styled provisions, the funds have now been authorized and are being appropriated. For Alaska to maximize the benefits of the bill, we must make certain that those projects which it funds have key components: they focus on hard infrastructure; they are long term; and they provide a maintenance model that ensures the investment is properly supported over its useful life. As Americans we have a responsibility to ourselves and to future generations to maximize the benefit of our investments in ways that provide a positive return to our citizens. Poor investment decisions are ultimately paid for in the form of higher taxes or the hidden tax of inflation. I have great concerns over the level of spending introduced by this and similar bills and will work in the Congress to ensure that investments made by the American people are of high quality.” [Alaska Public Media, 8/10/22]

• Begich Claimed To Be A Supporter Of “Hard Infrastructure Projects.” “As a Congress, we have a sacred responsibility to ensure that funds deployed to infrastructure are invested wisely and in ways that produce a clear and compelling return to the American taxpayer. […] As a supporter of hard infrastructure investments, I believe we must continue to prioritize funding that will allow Alaska to deliver on its important national roles, including food security through our fisheries, national security, energy security, and minerals security. [Juneau Empire, 8/12/22]
• Begich Said, “We Do Need Investments In Infrastructure Absolutely, But So Much Of This Is Not Used For Hard Infrastructure, It’s Waste.” BEGICH: “I mean a lot of people say oh that’s so wonderful, look at all the projects and look at all this money. Look, we do need investments in infrastructure absolutely, but so much of this is not used for hard infrastructure. It’s waste. It’s huge amounts of government waste.” [YouTube, Michael Dukes Show, 1:48:36-1:48:52, 7/8/24] (VIDEO)

Begich Claimed Schools Should “Tighten Their Belts” On Infrastructure Expenditures Because Teachers “Drive Learning Outcomes.” “My bias is for teachers, not for infrastructure. We have teachers in this town that drive learning outcomes for our students. I think we’ve got some fantastic facilities but when faced with the budget challenges that we all know exists you know we’re going to have to we’re going to have to tighten the belt a little bit on some of those types of investments and in order to retain the the high-quality teachers.” [KTVA Newa, 3/25/16]

The Infrastructure Investment And Jobs Act, In Conjunction With Other Biden Administration Bills, Brought $8.8 Billion In Funding, 28K Jobs, And Clean Water To Alaska’s Indigenous And Rural Communities

The Infrastructure Investment And Jobs Act Funded The Tribal Water and Sanitation Infrastructure Project, Which Worked To Improve Water Systems For Alaska Native Communities. “Tribal Water and Sanitation Infrastructure: The Indian Health Service (IHS) announced allocation decisions for $700 million to support crucial sanitation projects that will result in substantial improvements to clean water and sanitation systems in American Indian and Alaska Native communities across the country. IHS will allocate $700 million in each fiscal year from FY 2022 through FY 2026, for a total of $3.5 billion for the IHS Sanitation Facilities Construction Program.” [White House, 11/15/22]

Biden Administration Policies Brought $8.8 Billion In Infrastructure Investments To Alaska. “$8.8 Billion in public investments in clean energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing under the Biden-Harris Administration.” [White House, 7/1/24]

28,800 New Jobs Were Created In Alaska Under The Biden Administration. “4.5% unemployment rate with 28.8 thousand new jobs created under the Biden Administration.” [White House, 7/1/24]

The Biden Administration Nearly Doubled The Amount Of Federal Funding That Trump Brought To Alaska. “During the three years of the Biden administration Alaska has received $65.9 billion in investment through federal spending. In the entirety of the Trump administration, this investment totaled $36.2 billion. These recent investments reflect the belief of our government that Alaska is vitally important to the geopolitical and economic future of the country. [Anchorage Daily News, 12/22/]

Every Member Of The Alaskan Delegation Supported The Infrastructure Investment And Jobs Act

Murkowski, Sullivan, And Young Supported The Infrastructure Investment And Jobs Act, Which Brought $3 Billion To Alaska In A Year. “The $1.2 trillion federal infrastructure law that Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan and the late Rep. Don Young crossed party lines to support a year ago has already brought nearly $3 billion to Alaska.” [Reporting From Alaska, 10/27/22]

Begich Said Don Young Had “No Fiscal Discipline” In Reference To The Infrastructure Investment And Jobs Act. “Don Young has rarely seen a spending program that he doesn’t like,” Begich told the Empire in a phone interview Wednesday. “There’s just been no fiscal discipline.”[…]“Seniority counts only if you show up to do the job,” Begich said. “Don Young is saying through his actions that he can’t do the job and he’s ready for a change.” [Juneau Empire, 12/1/21]

• Young “Showed Begich The Ropes” In DC By Offering Him An Internship In Washington DC. “Young agreed to show Begich the ropes in Washington last year so he could decide whether to run, Begich told E&E News this week.The internship, which Begich describes as a way for him to get temporary access to Young’s office, afforded the aspiring lawmaker a glossy badge and coveted access to the corridors of the U.S. Capitol. Begich”asked Don Young to join our office & shadow the Dean to learn how Congress works,” Brown wrote. “Begich was planning on primarying Young all along. He used DY & staff to secure inside info.” [E&E News, 10/28/22]
• Young Stated Begich Wasn’t Loyal Or Honest. ““I hired that young man to show him the ropes, run for the job, don’t run against me…it’s not loyalty, nor is it honest…That’s a person I don’t want to serve me in Congress,” Young said. [Juneau Empire, 10/27/22]