A group of Republican and Democratic moderates in the Senate are circling a compromise proposal on infrastructure spending that would cost about $ 800 billion – an amount far behind what most Democrats want and what President Biden
Joe BidenHouse panel approves bill to establish reparations committee Democrats must file bill to expand Supreme Court Former Israeli Prime Minister advises Iran to ‘cool down’ amid nuclear threats MORE has suggested.
In late March, Biden unveiled a $ 2.25 trillion proposal called the “American Jobs Plan” aimed at updating roads, bridges and public transportation, along with funding to combat climate change and other features to support American families.
The president proposed raising the corporate tax rate to fund the bill, a move that both Republicans and moderate Democrats have struggled against.
And while moderate Republicans and Democrats have agreed to get together to write a leaner proposal, some GOP members have signaled that $ 800 billion is still too much, while Democrats are more likely to push on a higher price tag.
Her. Shelley Moore Capito
Shelley Wellons Moore CapitoSenate Confirms Biden’s Choice to Lead White House Senate Council to Face Earmarks Next Week Biden Outreach on Infrastructure Met Republican Skepticism MORE (RW.Va.) is pushing for a compromise proposal that she says could drop between $ 600 billion and $ 800 billion in five years.
“I said between $ 600 billion and $ 800 billion, that’s a huge flight,” said Capito, the Republican listed by the Environment and Public Works Committee, on Wednesday, citing spending on expanding broadband and port infrastructure.
Other GOP moderates say Capito’s figure is a good starting point.
“I’m getting a presentation from Senator Capito next week … but I certainly think $ 800 billion would be a great package,” Senator. Susan Collins
Susan Margaret Collins OVERNIGHT POWER: Senate Confirms Mallory Heads White House Environment Council | US emissions fell 1.7 percent in 2019 | Home Office Further Postpones Trump Rule To Lower FBI Drillers Anti-Asian Hate Crime Bill Overcomes Senate’s First Hurdle On The Money: Senate Confirms Gensler Leads SEC | Senate GOP to face off over earmarking next week | Top Republican on home tax panel to retire MORE (R-Maine) said.
The West Virginia Republican got a boost Thursday when Sen. Chris Coons
Chris Andrew CoonsPavlich: Biden Wants ‘Infrastructure’ – Republicans Must Negotiate Schumer Warns Democrats Can’t Allow GOP to Block Expanded Agenda Inflation Rises Amid Spending Debate MORE (D-Del.), A key ally of Biden, endorsed her spending goal.
“I spoke to Senator Capito yesterday. The path forward that I see and work for is one where we incorporate and pass a two-pronged infrastructure law, one that focuses on areas where the parties really agree, ”he said in a CNN interview. “That could end up being a $ 800 billion to $ 1 trillion two-tier bill.”
Coons told reporters in an interview later Thursday that it would be smart to first pass a scaled-down bipartisan infrastructure law and then include remaining priorities on Biden’s infrastructure agenda in a second bill that could pass the Senate under budget reconciliation, a process that would only require democratic votes.
“We are trying to advance $ 2 trillion in infrastructure investment and jobs. Why not put it into $ 800 billion in a twofold way and the other $ 1.2 trillion [Democrats] only through atonement? ” he said.
But moving a scaled-down infrastructure package through the Senate, even as a down payment on Biden’s $ 2.25 trillion Build Back Better agenda, could be a tough sell in the Democratic caucus.
Perhaps the most influential centrist in Congress, Sen. Joe Manchin
Joe ManchinHouse Committee Approves DC Statehood Bill Romney and Sinema Collaborate on Proposal to Increase Minimum Wage The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Biden Defends Afghanistan Withdrawal After Pushback MORE (DW.Va.), does not endorse a scaled-down infrastructure law.
Manchin said on Thursday that he is not ready to settle for an $ 800 billion target for infrastructure spending.
‘We’re going to do whatever it takes. If it costs $ 4 trillion I would do $ 4 trillion, but we have to pay for it, ”he said.
“What we have to do is identify the infrastructure. Come to an agreement, but we all identify. And the need for infrastructure, make sure we can do it [with] timeliness and making sure we pay for it. ”
“There is no number at all to set,” he added.
Other Democrats say they want to “go big” and voice concerns about scaling down Biden’s infrastructure proposal. Some of them fear that the political momentum to approve a second package may fade later in the year.
“I think we need to get big in this,” said Sen. Bob Casey
Robert (Bob) Patrick Casey Democrats split over gun control strategy Senate Democrats are calling on DHS for details on response to Portland protests Dems momentum hits swamp over infrastructure plans MORE (D-Pa.). “We are still in the early stages of it. We still need to talk to people a lot and start drafting legislation. “
“It’s a really important time to get big and I’m afraid that conversations that focus on narrowing things down will negotiate against the goal we all have,” he said.
A group of House and Senate Republican and Democratic lawmakers had a phone call Thursday with the Maryland government, Larry Hogan, a moderate Republican, to explore options for a two-tier infrastructure proposal that would be a fraction of the cost of Biden’s plan.
“It’s always encouraging when you talk to two-member Senate and House members. Gov. Hogan was engaged [the call.] I think this is how you go about a proposal that will not only produce 50 Democrats and a Republican, but also a really good two-party package, “Sen said. Lisa Murkowski
Lisa Ann Murkowski Trump Mocks Murkowski, Cheney Election Odds Biden Chooses Obama Alum For Number 2 At Interior Biden Outreach On Infrastructure Met Republican Skepticism MORE (R-Alaska) of Thursday morning’s call, sponsored by No Labels, a group proposing duality.
Yet even moderate Republicans are divided on how much to spend.
Her. Mitt Romney
Willard (Mitt) Mitt Romney Romney, Sinema Collaborate on Proposal to Raise Minimum Wage Family Policies That Can Appeal Right and Left Press: Corporate America Defies GOP MORE (R-Utah) indicated that $ 800 billion in new infrastructure spending is more than he likes.
“It depends on what’s in it, what we define as infrastructure,” he said. “That number seems a bit high, but it may contain some elements that I am not aware of.”
There are also disagreements among GOP lawmakers on how to pay for it.
Capito said Thursday that raising the corporate tax rate to pay for infrastructure is a “non-starter.”
“I think that’s a non-negotiable red line,” she said Thursday. “For me personally that is a non-starter.”
Murkowski expressed some more flexibility in monetization, but criticized the Biden administration for relying entirely on higher corporate and business taxes to pay for its infrastructure proposal.
“You have a very, very big package that the administration has put in place and they say this is how we’re going to pay for it,” she said, referring to a proposal to increase the corporate tax rate to 28 percent.
She suggested considering a combination of higher user fees, including an increase in gas taxes.
“Why don’t we look at the gas tax? Why don’t we even have a discussion about actual kilometers traveled on the road? “she said.” There has been no imagination, I don’t think, which has gone into, ‘How do you deal with paying?’