The Republican National Committee (RNC) released a statement slamming Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, who spent Thursday in Arizona rallying with local and federal level Democrats.
“Biden bureaucrat Pete Buttigieg’s campaign stops are a slap in the face to hardworking Arizonans after Democrat Mark Kelly just voted to raise taxes on them during a recession and sic 87,000 IRS agents on them. Biden and Buttigieg’s attempt to bail out Mark Kelly will fail,” said RNC Spokesperson Ben Petersen.
Buttigieg reportedly held a Thursday morning press conference in Tucson with Kelly, who faces firebrand challenger Blake Masters in November’s general election. He then headed to Phoenix, where he held another press conference with U.S. Representatives Greg Stanton (D-AZ-09) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-07), and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego.
At the conferences, he touted new projects that will be completed using taxpayer funds from last year’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
In Arizona, that bill helps extend the Phoenix light rail system by just over a mile and a half, costing $158 million. The state also received $7.9 billion for highway projects.
Meanwhile, Masters has been on the offensive, attacking Kelly in the lead up to the general election.
Regarding the recent Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raid on former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home, Masters slammed Kelly for his silence.
“Why isn’t Mark Kelly saying anything??? Is he concerned about the politicization of the DOJ? About Joe Biden persecuting his political opposition? As usual, silence from Mark Kelly, as he helps drag the country further in the wrong direction,” he said.
Why isn’t Mark Kelly saying anything??? Is he concerned about the politicization of the DOJ? About Joe Biden persecuting his political opposition? As usual, silence from Mark Kelly, as he helps drag the country further in the wrong direction
— Blake Masters (@bgmasters) August 10, 2022
He had previously described the raid as “politically motivated.”
For his part, Buttigieg has also been in the news for speaking with airlines about more readily giving American passengers refunds if flights are significantly delayed or travel plans altered.
“When Americans buy an airline ticket, they should get to their destination safely, reliably, and affordably,” he reportedly said. “This new proposed rule would protect the rights of travelers and help ensure they get the timely refunds they deserve from the airlines.”
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
