Young Will Oppose Infrastructure Bill, Citing Debt Concerns

U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) will oppose the bipartisan, federal infrastructure bill when it comes up for a vote soon in the Senate.

The current infrastructure bill would send billions of dollars to Indiana for, among other things, highway improvements and bridge repairs, public transportation and broadband.

But Young said he’s not comfortable that enough of the bill is paid for and would add too greatly to the national debt. He also expressed discomfort at the insistence of some Democrats – including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) – to tie passage of the infrastructure bill to a larger budget package.

Young did say he hopes to continue working on the measure as it moves to the House.

Indiana’s other U.S. Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.), has decried the bill as a “debt bomb.”

Indiana Democrats said the measure will deliver investments that Hoosiers need. And they noted Young was supportive of the 2017 federal tax cuts, which many economists say added significantly to the deficit.

Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.