Cori Bush Exposed, Voted Down Transit Funding She Now Demands
This article examines Cori Bush’s recent complaint that Congress doesn’t prioritize public transit, contrasts that claim with her 2021 vote against a major infrastructure bill that included billions for transit, reviews her explanation and transit-related proposals, and records the criticisms from Republican strategists who call her stance inconsistent.
Cori Bush has been publicly lamenting that Congress ignores transit funding, insisting that reliable service is a basic need for St. Louis. Her message frames transit as a cornerstone issue for everyday people, and she promises to bring the fight back to Washington if voters send her back to the House. That pitch sounds straightforward, but facts from her record raise questions about whether her words match her past actions.
In 2021 Bush joined a small group of progressive Democrats in opposing the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a package that included sizable funding streams for transit upgrades. Critics point out the bill provided federal support for buses and rail systems but still drew her opposition because she and her allies wanted the measure tied to a broader left-wing agenda. She once argued she “didn’t come to Congress to allow [her constituents’] priorities to be put on a shelf.”
Last week Bush told followers online that “Reliable transit service is essential in meeting the most basic needs of St. Louis.” She added bluntly, “Unfortunately, transit funding is not prioritized in Congress. That changes when I return to Washington, as I’ll continue fighting for legislation that benefits us.” Those are strong words, but critics say voters are justified in asking why she voted against a bill that contained large transit funding lines.
Her campaign framed the 2021 vote as a matter of principle, saying the infrastructure bill was decoupled from a larger package of policies she supports. A campaign spokesperson said the former congresswoman was “clear and consistent” in explaining that her ‘no” vote was because the bipartisan infrastructure bill was decoupled from the left’s Build Back Better bill that contained an array of aggressive social and environmental policies. The campaign insisted Bush wanted the two packages linked so she could push for universal pre-K, expanded Medicare, the Child Tax Credit, and lower prescription drug prices.
While in office, Bush did introduce transit-focused legislation, including bills aimed at creating federal grant programs to upgrade bus rapid transit and light rail systems nationwide. Those proposals show she has been willing to draft targeted federal funding tools rather than accept a broad bipartisan compromise. Supporters will say that proves she cares about transit; skeptics will say it does not erase a vote that rejected billions earmarked under a different bill.
Republican operatives were quick to highlight the gap between campaign rhetoric and past votes. One longtime strategist warned, “Campaign rhetoric has a nasty habit of colliding with contradictory votes from the past, and undermining politicians’ credibility and trust.” That critique is meant to paint Bush as out of step with practical results and to remind voters that promises matter less than legislative choices.
Outside campaign spin, attacks from Republican communicators have been pointed and personal. “No wonder Cori Bush restricts comments on her X account posts, because her hypocrisy knows no bounds and deserves to be called out by the American people,” a former House communications official said. Another criticized what he called a pattern of inconsistencies: “Whether it’s driving an SUV but demanding everyone else must live under the Green New Deal, spending thousands on private security while calling to defund the police, or now trying to hide from her own voting record, Cori Bush’s hypocrisy is nothing short of jaw-dropping,” he said. He added, “The voters of St. Louis have already rejected her once, and it shouldn’t be a surprise if it happens again this election cycle.”
Bush’s rise to prominence came out of the Ferguson protests and a movement focused on police reform, and she unseated a longtime incumbent in 2020 to become Missouri’s first Black woman in Congress. During her term she allied with a bloc of progressive members who pushed for sweeping social and environmental programs along with local infrastructure priorities. That political identity explains both her appeal to some voters and the fierce critiques from those who view her record as ideologically driven rather than results-oriented.
Darnell Thompkins is a conservative opinion writer from Atlanta, GA, known for his insightful commentary on politics, culture, and community issues. With a passion for championing traditional values and personal responsibility, Darnell brings a thoughtful Southern perspective to the national conversation. His writing aims to inspire meaningful dialogue and advocate for policies that strengthen families and empower individuals.
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