Biden laughs at Tuberville hailing Alabama broadband funds he voted against
During an economic speech Thursday, President Biden continued to call out Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville over the senator praising funding for the state to expand broadband internet access contained in the infrastructure law Tuberville voted against.
In a portion of the 30-minute speech in South Carolina, the president highlighted Republicans who took credit for administration policies they voted against, including the infrastructure law that allocates $1.4 billion for broadband improvements in Alabama.
“The distinguished senator from the state of Alabama — former coach of the university — strongly opposed the bipartisan infrastructure law [and] is now hailing its passage,” Biden said, reviving his feud with Tuberville over the funding and Space Command that began last week.
“He said, quote, ‘Great to see Alabama receive critical funds to boost ongoing broadband efforts,” the president said, referring to a Tuberville tweet from last week.
Biden then laughed at Tuberville’s tweet.
“It is great,” the president said. “That’s all right, because I’m one of those guys that believes in conversion.”
Tuberville was not one of the 19 Republicans who voted in favor of the bill back in August 2021, which passed 69-30 in the Senate. Richard Shelby, then still Alabama’s senior U.S. Senator, also voted against it.
Former President Donald Trump had urged Republicans to vote against the bill, but Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky voted for the legislation.
Former Sen. Doug Jones, who Tuberville defeated in 2020, had pointed words, not just for Tuberville, but for the rest of his Republican congressional colleagues.
“I bet they will damn sure take credit,” Jones tweeted.
Last week, Biden first hit Tuberville over the tweet, telling Alabama’s senior senator, “See you at the groundbreaking” for the broadband project.
Tuberville then replied with his own tweet, asking if Biden meant the Space Command groundbreaking.
Tuberville is one of many Alabama officials who have argued that Huntsville, not Colorado Springs, Colorado, is the best location for U.S. Space Command’s new headquarters.