It took him four days, but Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg finally had a comeback for the criticism leveled against him by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), calling the GOP leader “unserious.”
Johnson visited the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport on Monday morning along with other members of the Florida Delegation to get a first-hand look at the airport’s $100 million expansion project that will add a five-gate terminal, a four-lane security checkpoint, and five boarding hold rooms that can seat 970 people, according to WFLA.
“I’m not delighted in the way that Secretary Buttigieg has run the Transportation Department. I think there’s been … let’s say, to be charitable, it’s left much to be desired,” the speaker said while discussing the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill which was funded by the infrastructure law.
Taking to social media on Thursday — it was surely not by accident that Buttigieg was responding to an MSNBC contributor going to bat for him — the Transportation secretary tweeted: “Spoken while touring an airport project that we selected… for funding from President Biden’s infrastructure bill… that Speaker Johnson voted against. And after voting, twice this year alone, to slash air traffic control budgets. This is, to put it charitably, unserious.”
Spoken while touring an airport project that we selected… for funding from President Biden’s infrastructure bill… that Speaker Johnson voted against.
And after voting, twice this year alone, to slash air traffic control budgets.
This is, to put it charitably, unserious. https://t.co/J1mNFxObMR
— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) November 30, 2023
For Democrats who’ve never met a spending bill they couldn’t embrace, being serious means throwing caution — and concern for inflation and a crippling national debt — to the wind and spend, spend spend.
Here’s a quick response to the story, as seen on X:
He then promptly went back on his 3 year paternity leave
— Kyle Beckley (@Kyle_Beckley) December 1, 2023
Secretary Booty Juice is right. Trains constantly derailing and dumping dangerous chemicals into waterways is completely normal.
— 325AIR (@325AIR1) December 1, 2023
With all due respect, he is the worst transportation secretary I’ve ever seen.
— Intrigue (@moderatemikelee) December 1, 2023
How can anyone deny roads, bridges, and overpasses are racist!
— Stiles Bitchley ☆☆ $8 (@StilesBitchley2) December 1, 2023
Imagine how many more new airports we could fund if we defunded the @USDOT
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) November 30, 2023
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Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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