For quite a few weeks now, President Biden and Republican lawmakers have struggled to see eye to eye on an infrastructure bill for the nation.
Trouble first began when Democrats threw together a package that is more than 94% removed from infrastructure and then tried to pass it off as infrastructure. Republicans rightfully called this out and then leftists in Congress sadly resorted to the endeavor of changing the definition of infrastructure.
President Biden and the White House have indicated an interest in bipartisanship on infrastructure. However, thus far, these are just words. Democrats maintain their refusal to truly get serious and present a reasonable infrastructure-centered bill.
As Newsmax confirms, Republicans are saying “no deal” to the latest package to come from the White House.
The Consistent Impasse on Infrastructure
Yesterday, the White House brought down the spending on their infrastructure bill from $2.3 trillion to $1.7 trillion.
However, the GOP still has some issues with it. According to a spokesperson representing Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, the White House and Republicans still harbor strong disagreements on how to pay for infrastructure and even what entails infrastructure. These disagreements are critical, not minor, and will undoubtedly impact the ability to reach an agreement.
Biden's "infrastructure" plan includes giving the IRS power to spy on your bank account to track every dime you make & every dollar you spend.
This is the same IRS that targeted conservatives last time Biden was in the White House.
Does that sound like infrastructure to you?
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) May 21, 2021
The spokesperson for Sen. Capito also provided additional details. Despite the mild drop in proposed spending from the White House, Democrats are still very far away from what Republicans view as acceptable on infrastructure.
Punchbowl News: Senate Democrats are readying their options to move ahead with a fast-track reconciliation infrastructure package if no agreement is reached between Biden and Republicans.
Aides to Schumer and Sanders met with Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough on Thursday.
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 21, 2021
Finally, the GOP senator’s spokesperson confirmed that Republican will continue speaking with the White House regarding infrastructure.
The White House’s Version of Events
Needless to say, the White House has very a very different view on the means in which they’ve gone about negotiating on an infrastructure package. According to Democrats, their reduction in spending constitutes an attempt to compromise and reach across the aisle.
As good as Democrat may think this sounds, it’s just not enough. Thus far, Biden is still pushing to do away with tax reductions and various loopholes that are of aid to small businesses; this, along with the rise of the corporate tax rate, is how Democrats want to pay for their infrastructure bill.
Jen Psaki says the White House countered the infrastructure proposal from Republicans with a $1.7 trillion version, down from Biden's initial $2.25 trillion. "In our view, this is the art of seeking common ground," Psaki says.
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) May 21, 2021
Republicans aren’t willing to accept such horrific policies that would only threaten U.S. jobs and the livelihoods of so many Americans. Democrats have to get real, be serious, and show more of a willingness to end this push to increase taxes.
Until that takes place, it is going to be very challenging for Democrats and Republicans to reach a common stance on the right infrastructure bill.
Do you think the White House and Republicans will ever manage to reach agreed upon terms for an infrastructure bill? Let us know down below in the comments section.
