While the White House and Senate Republicans have spent weeks negotiating, both sides remain far apart on the top line, along with pay-fors and the definition of “infrastructure”
President Joe Biden rejected a slightly higher infrastructure offer from Senate Republicans on Friday, the latest setback for bipartisan talks.
“The President expressed his gratitude for her effort and goodwill, but also indicated that the current offer did not meet his objectives to grow the economy, tackle the climate crisis, and create new jobs,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement “He indicated to Senator Capito that he would continue to engage a number of Senators in both parties in the hopes of achieving a more substantial package.
During his meeting with Capito on Wednesday, Biden suggested negotiators could instead impose a new corporate version of the alternative minimum tax, set at 15 percent. He also called for $1 trillion over current spending levels, which Republicansas a step in the wrong direction. Senate Republicans have proposed paying for the infrastructure bill through user fees and unspent coronavirus relief money, but Democrats are rejecting that idea.
The ongoing discussions come as progressives are pushing for Biden to move forward with the so-called reconciliation process, which would allow Democrats to pass the infrastructure package without Republican votes in the Senate. Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said she wants to pass a bill by July 4 and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer suggested recently that the Senate would be working on an infrastructure package during the month of July.
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