Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) does a cable interview at the Capitol in Washington before the beginning of a two week recess. This was Wednesday, June 23, 2021. AP Photo/J. Scott ApplewhiteOn Tuesday, 19 Republicans signed onto the infrastructure bill. This was a public defiance of Trump.Trump tried to undermine the bill during negotiations and warned Republicans to not support it.Here's a list of GOP members who refused to bow to his demands.Check out more stories from Insider's business page.On Tuesday, nineteen Republican senators approved $1 trillion infrastructure legislation. This was in direct defiance of former President Donald Trump's attempts to kill it.All 50 Democratic lawmakers voted for the bill, and it passed 69-30. The legislation provides billions of dollars for road, bridge, and broadband access improvements, as well as other measures.Trump repeatedly criticised the bill before the vote and pressured Republicans to not support it. He threatened to primary those who did.Trump called the bill a "disgrace" as details were being finalized. He told Republicans to think twice before they approve the terrible deal. Trump issued a warning last month as negotiations were in progress: "Don’t do it Republicans. Patriots will never forget." Many primaries will come your way if this deal is reached!Trump's four-year term saw numerous failed attempts to pass infrastructure bills. This has led to a joke about an interminable "infrastructure week". However, President Joe Biden has been able to reach a bipartisan agreement with congressional legislators within seven months of his presidency. Biden praised Tuesday's Senate passage of the bill, calling it "historic" as well as "unprecedented." Now, the package is headed to the House for approval.Trump has been trying to keep his grip on Republican politics since his departure from office. However, Tuesday's action marks a significant repudiation of Trump by members of his party.Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was the highest ranking Republican in the upper chamber and voted for the legislation.Continue the storyHe released a statement saying that he was proud to support the historic bipartisan infrastructure agreement today and showed that both political sides can still work together on common-sense solutions. "By supporting sensible, collaborative legislation we have demonstrated that the Senate still functions as an institution.Hours before Tuesday's Senate vote, Trump attacked McConnell calling him the "most overrated man" in politics.Trump said, "He is working so much to give Biden victory."Many Republicans voted "yes," including Senators. Over the past two-months, Mitt Romney from Utah and Susan Collins from Maine had led negotiations for the bill with Democrats and the White House.A few Republicans, including Collins, Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, Bill Cassidy, Louisiana, and Richard Burr, North Carolina, voted to convict Obama in his second impeachment case earlier this year. He was being tried on the charge of "incitement or insurrection."Some of the GOP members who signed the bill include Sen Lindsey Graham, South Carolina.The retirement of three senators, Rob Portman, Burr and Roy Blunt, has been announced. This avoids any potential backlash from the voters about their support for the bill, and also helps to avoid a primary threat from Trump.Murkowski, who is running for reelection in 2019, already faces a Trump-backed challenger. Other Republicans who voted for the infrastructure bill and whose seats are up in 2022 include Senator Chuck Grassley from Iowa, John Hoeven from North Dakota, and Mike Crapo from Idaho.Here's a list of the 19 Republican senators that signed on to this bill:Kentucky: Mitch McConnellUtah: Mitt RomneySusan Collins of MaineLindsey Graham, South CarolinaRoy Blunt, MissouriRob Portman, OhioBill Cassidy, LouisianaChuck Grassley, IowaShelley Moore Capito, West VirginiaDeb Fischer from NebraskaRoger Wicker, MississippiMike Crapo from IdahoJim Risch, IdahoKevin Cramer, North DakotaJohn Hoeven, North DakotaLisa Murkowski from AlaskaDan Sullivan from AlaskaRichard Burr, North CarolinaThom Tillis, North CarolinaBusiness Insider has the original article.
