'Tiger of the House' claws his way through infrastructure talks

Peter DeFazio has made his life's work about transportation. Now, at a pivotal moment, the Democratic committee chair's being boxed out.

Politico By SARAH FERRIS and HEATHER CAYGLE July 27, 2021 House Transportation Committee Chair Peter DeFazio is on the verge of getting rolled. And he’s not going quietly. After a 34-year congressional career devoted to transportation and environment issues, the Oregon Democrat could soon be forced to watch his life’s work shunted to the side if Senate negotiators secure a deal this week on a massive $1.2 trillion infrastructure package — largely without House input. In a fiery tirade to fellow Democrats during a closed-door meeting Tuesday, DeFazio called the bill “crap.” He blasted the White House and Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), who he referred to as the three “Republicans” crafting the Senate deal.

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