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Congress embarks on epic battle over Biden infrastructure plan

Published 03/31/2021, 12:01 PM
Updated 03/31/2021, 08:40 PM
© Reuters. The U.S. Capitol during a morning rainstorm, after Congress agreed to a multi-trillion dollar economic stimulus package created in response to the economic fallout from the COVID-19 Coronavirus, on Capitol Hill in Washington

© Reuters. The U.S. Capitol during a morning rainstorm, after Congress agreed to a multi-trillion dollar economic stimulus package created in response to the economic fallout from the COVID-19 Coronavirus, on Capitol Hill in Washington

By Makini Brice and Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Congress is poised for a long battle over President Joe Biden's infrastructure investment plan as Democrats argue with Republicans and among themselves over the $2 trillion cost and how the money should be parceled out in coming years.

Democrats, with effective control of the Senate and a slim majority in the House of Representatives aim to deliver a final bill for the Democratic president to sign into law between July 4 and early September.

They have said they want Republican support for the plan, but have also pledged to move unilaterally if they cannot make prompt progress.

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer invoked special fast-track budget rules to pass Biden's recent $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill without Republican support. Schumer may have to go that route again, as Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said on Wednesday he would not support tax increases or deficit spending in the bill.

"I'm going to bring Republicans into the Oval Office, listen to them, what they have to say and be open to other ideas," Biden said in a speech in Pittsburgh on Wednesday unveiling the proposal. "We'll have a good-faith negotiation with any Republican who wants to get this done,"

Liberal Democrats urged Biden to be more ambitious.

"Needs to be way bigger," Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said on Twitter. Senator Ed Markey, a fellow progressive, has called for $11 trillion in spending over the next decade.

The Associated General Contractors of America, a construction group, praised the job creation that Biden's plan would ignite, but attacked a measure it said would provide new protections for workers trying to join labor unions.

Biden's plan initially calls for $2 trillion in new spending on everything from roads and bridges to broadband and elderly care, along with higher corporate taxes. Economists say the measures could create millions of blue-collar jobs.

Biden may also unveil a second spending package in April.

Republican former President Donald Trump had pledged infrastructure legislation in 2017, but it never got off the ground in part because of partisan disagreements over funding mechanisms.

Last month, Congress passed Biden's coronavirus aid package without Republican support.

This time around, a dizzying array of congressional committees, ranging from House and Senate tax-writing panels to those that oversee health policy, the environment and transportation, are expected to struggle to find consensus.

ARRAY OF QUESTIONS

Many Republicans are wary of Biden's infrastructure plan, especially if it is financed with tax increases. Some moderate House Democrats have said they will only support it if there is a bigger write-off for state and local taxes.

An array of thorny questions, including whether to use the legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs, could produce delays along the way.

Sam Graves, top Republican on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, lamented that only 25% of the proposal was devoted to transportation infrastructure like roads and bridges and objected to tax increases.

© Reuters. Materials and trucks to fix roads are seen over a local road in Newark, New Jersey

Graves called on lawmakers to back proposals that could gain bipartisan support. Bill Shuster, a retired Republican congressman who was chairman of the transportation and infrastructure panel, predicted that elements like green energy and broadband investment could gain backing from both Democrats and Republicans.

Current and former lawmakers say it may take until September to pass the bill. The environment gets more difficult after that point as moderate Democrats could be pressed to defend Biden's deficit spending ahead of the 2022 congressional elections.

Latest comments

@Sanders : They are missing you but they do not know it now.
China thinks america shouldnt invest in itself.
The few moderate Democrats are starting to fear midterms already
I wonder what the tax rate is when you take away all the loop holes and scams. Probably 5%.
Biden needs only 50 votes. If all Dems agree, he gets it. The debate is among Dems. Gop has no power. If all Dems agree, they can kick Reps to the curb.
Biden does not represent the majority of Americans. he has no right to pass this
Just think about all the taxes we already pay and washington will come for more!!!! InsaneReal estate, federal, state, local, sales , wheel tax, gas, groceries and the list goes on and on! Unsustainable!
EricWill not be old because of the fetaynl he will be gone early
gene like trump tax cut? were you whining the about fiscal responsibility? lol
maybe lets return to the 1970 level of taxes or do you shrink your budget to $2 a month and live like a 3rd world child simply because youd rather let the rest of your family die.maybe up your budget and provide for your family. stop being a traitorous grinch
Whatever your view on taxes trickle down obviously isnt working. We cant even raise the minimum wage to get people out of poverty
Your saying every person making minimum wage has no skill and no education?
kaveh says you who wrote "if u making min..." lol
Republicans think everyone working minimum wage should just die apprently.
Not a fan of money printing, but if your going to do it your better off just handing it out as more stimulus checks. It would mean $6000+ for every man, women, and child. No money for big corporations, politicians, or greedy bureaucrats.
Wrong, Americans will keep blowing the stim money on scratch offs and processed foods, in the end your right back where you began.
correct, more printing means devalue the money meaning rents,food,gas,utilities go up w it.
gene is a bitter man probably clinging on to the little wealth he gathered in the 90s.living an unfulfilling life lashing out at people for achieving what he couldn't.studies have shown stimmy has gone into savings or into debts already accrued, but this guy is using loaded words to signal racist.such a weak pathetic man
2021 version of the Obama $Trillion dollar Shovel Ready Jobs that never happened
Last time I believe most went to bail out local governments, don’t expect anything different this time.
Most of that money bailed out corporations
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