'We have a deal,' Biden says after meeting with Senate infrastructure group

[George II]

Source: CNBC

President Joe Biden on Thursday declared that the White House had struck an infrastructure deal with a bipartisan group of senators after discussing the massive plan to improve the nation’s roads, bridges and broadband earlier in the day.

“White House senior staff had two productive meetings today with the bipartisan group of Senators who have been negotiating about infrastructure,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement Wednesday night. “The group made progress towards an outline of a potential agreement, and the President has invited the group to come to the White House tomorrow to discuss this in-person.”

The lawmakers have worked for weeks to craft a roughly $1 trillion infrastructure package that could get through Congress with support from both parties. Deciding how to pay for the plan has posed the biggest challenge, and the senators have not finalized how a proposal would raise revenue.

Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/24/infrastructure-deal-talks-biden-invites-bipartisan-senators-to-white-house.html

[liberal N proud]

1. Don't trust the republicans

[groundloop]

3. Joe has seen them in action.... I'm cautiously optimistic on this (but not holding my breath)

[WA-03 Democrat]

6. I trust our President

Until we as a nation are resembling the Democratic Super Majorities in California, we are going to have to get the best we can for the most. This administration would except nothing less. Let’s vote the leeches out!

[PatSeg]

46. Yeah, Biden wasn't born yesterday

He is a skilled, experienced negotiator. I don't think he's going to fall for the Lucy football routine.

[Griefbird]

48. I dunno...

They haven't agreed how to pay for it, and I don't believe they will. C'mon, Charlie Brown.

[PatSeg]

56. True, its not going to be easy,

but I'm sure he knows it will be a tough fight.

[SheltieLover]

2. Yaaaaaay!

I don't trust qpukes either.

[wcmagumba]

4. They (thugs) won't follow through, turdle will block somehow...just smoke & mirrors so thugs can say

well, we tried...vote for us....(imo)...hope to be wrong...

[JohnSJ]

7. If the repugs filibuster it, they will just go through reconciliation, where I expect the same

republicans who were part of this deal will vote for it, and offset those progressives who will vote against it so it will pass

[onetexan]

11. +1 K&R

[JohnSJ]

5. What will be interesting is who votes for it, and who votes against it

and if they have to go through reconciliation because it is filibustered

[niyad]

8. "Progress toward an outline of a potential deal" does not sound positive to me. Not

Last edited Thu Jun 24, 2021, 03:30 PM - Edit history (1)

holding my breath.

[HUAJIAO]

27. Right, tell me about it. Misleading headline. DUH !!!

And about 1/2 of Biden's original proposal.

[George II]

32. Headline is an exact quote from PRESIDENT Biden.

[HUAJIAO]

38. Hummm.. Well if the deal really isn;t done yet,

perhaps he would have been better to hold off, or perhaps say something like, "we're close' to a deal.

But he certainly knows more what he's doing than I do.

I'm just a retired drummer....

[George II]

39. I don't second guess my Democratic President, nor do I imply that he's not telling the truth...

But that's just me, I'm only a rank and file loyal Democrat.

[HUAJIAO]

40. I question everything that is not a sure thing. And even some things that appear to be.

Last edited Thu Jun 24, 2021, 06:22 PM - Edit history (1)

I am certainly not implying that he is not telling the truth.

I am also a loyal Democrat. Sounds like you are suggesting that perhaps I am not.

[FloridaBlues]

9. What concerns me is agreement on paying for the bill

I don't trust republicans either on anything

[Raven123]

10. Interesting "deal." Trimmed down plan with unsettled financing. Where is the GOP compromise?

[rurallib]

26. Exactly - and NO tax increases

What did the GQP contribute to the 'compromise'?

[HUAJIAO]

41. jeeze, I 'questioned' the deal and got criticized for it...

you're lucky..

[hamsterjill]

58. It's appropriate to question.

I know about getting flamed, but oh well.

What did this bill start out as? Six trillion, right? And what’s left?

Those are MY questions!

[HUAJIAO]

59. Thank you.

I've always marched to a different drummer, as it were.

And you have the right questions...

[hamsterjill]

60. You're welcome.

I don’t think it disparages Dems to truly want to have these answers. It was the Dems, after all, who started out with the figure of $6 trillion. I’d like to hear from THEM (as opposed to those on DU who attack anyone who dares question) why the bill is now so watered down.

Did we need $6 trillion, or not? And after today’s building collapse, I’d say we probably do. Yes, I know the building that collapsed was a private property, but building inspectors should be a part of the overall infrastructure, wouldn’t you think?

[HUAJIAO]

61. Building inspectors should absolutely be part of the bill.

To the fascists they are just another 'regulation' that cuts into their profits...

regulated capitalism, if you will.

a 'well-regulated militia'

[Mike Nelson]

12. Yay!

... I like the way Biden is building a corner for Mitch, Kevin, and their ilk. They can disrupt, but from their miserable crib. I think swing voters will notice.

[George II]

13. Look at the Senators that accompanied him, ALL "swing" Senators, and all so-called "centrists"...

Legislation gets done from the CENTER, not either fringe.

[Elessar Zappa]

21. There are no centrist Republicans.

All are well right of center.

[George II]

29. Yes there are.

[HUAJIAO]

42. In my limited view, they only appear to be 'centrists' because the republican party has gone

all out fascist.

Eisenhower was a centrist!

[George II]

45. How wide is your "centrist" band in the Senate - 10 members? 20 members? 50 members?

[HUAJIAO]

51. No idea.

[LizBeth]

14. Cut it more than half. Seems real close to what republicans want. We will see as develops and I

leave myself open to be educated.

[TexasBushwhacker]

16. The thing of it is

is that building and repairing infrastructure means JOBS, so a significant share of what is spent comes back to the federal coffers in the form of income tax.

[Bleacher Creature]

15. I don't trust Republicans, but I do trust Biden.

On its surface, it stinks, but I have to think that Biden knows what he's doing.

[WHITT]

17. How The Hell

are the Repubs going to pay for it? They're against raising taxes on their biggest contributors, and Biden ruled-out user fees and stealing covid relief money.

[Javaman]

18. um, okay. what kind of a deal?

you know the repukes have something up their sleeves.

[left-of-center2012]

19. Don't count your chickens before they hatch

It ain't over until the voting is done.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

20. Meanwhile, lurking in the grass to strike it down...

[Bayard]

22. Nothing about climate change

If its not addressed in a big way, the rest is just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

And this is ludicrous:
"The proposal calls to increase IRS enforcement to ensure wealthy people pay the taxes they owe."
The wealthy are not doing anything illegal. Their well-paid accountants just take advantage of every loophole.

I am happy to see progress, but it sounds like Dems are settling for much less than they should.

[oldsoftie]

23. Its very easy for wealthy to illegally avoid taxes

As easy as it is for any of us who arent paid by W2 or 1099 earnings.
There's SO much untaxed income out there you'd be shocked. I live in this world and see it ALL the time.
You dont need loopholes; although the bad ones should be closed too

[Fiendish Thingy]

35. Climate change will be addressed in the second bill passed via reconciliation

The bipartisan bill will not reach Biden’s desk unless it is accompanied by a second bill, passed via reconciliation, that includes all the spending and programs, including climate change, left out of the bipartisan bill.

[peggysue2]

50. That's my understanding as well

In fact, I just read an article in the NY Post warning Republicans that this is an elaborate Democratic trick. Which doesn't make much sense since said trick has been telegraphed by President Biden: it's both bills hitting the President's desk for signature.



Where's the trick??? That being said, trick or no, the end result is fine by me: moving forward.

[bucolic_frolic]

24. Joe Biden said he would get it done

Link to tweet

Yamiche Alcindor
@Yamiche
President Biden speaking at the WH says on infrastructure: “We have a deal…We made serious compromises on both ends.”
Image
12:37 PM · Jun 24, 2021·Twitter for iPhone
___________________

My take:

Said he would reach across the aisle.
Govern as an American President.*

As I recall the original sum as floated was around $1.9T, later after in office a bit was $2.9T. But I think those numbers assumed a far worse economy from the pandemic, so the last numbers being thrown about $1-1.2T are not bad at all, in fact really good. His team over the last year, before taking office, during the transition, since Jan 20, left nothing uncovered. This has been real performance.

Did Republicans get played here?

* And by subliminal implication, not a Russian one, like TFG.

[HUAJIAO]

28. The yet to be realized 'deal' is 1/3 of Biden's original amount and 1/2 of his modified amount..

That's a deal?

What did/will the fascists give up ?

[Calista241]

30. Spending 12% of our annual GDP on one initiative was never going to happen.

Even at 1 trillion, it's possibly the largest initial government spending program of all time.

[Fiendish Thingy]

34. The spending is spread over 8-10 years, and will only pass if the total is closer to $3-6T

From all infrastructure bills combined. The bipartisan bill will not pass the house without a second reconciliation bill that includes all the spending and programs left out of the bipartisan bill.

[HUAJIAO]

36. Thanks. And I'm not arguing against Joe, just the fascists,,,

[Fiendish Thingy]

33. The bipartisan bill will not pass on its own, without an additional bill passed via reconciliation

Sanders is talking about a total spending package of $6T, and he is chair of the budget committee, so this bill won’t move without his approval.

[HUAJIAO]

37. Thanks...

[George II]

47. You don't think his people inflated it for just a situation like this? Ever buy a house or a car?

[HUAJIAO]

62. I have no idea if his people inflated it. Do you?

I've bought 2 houses and..... 10 cars!

[Deep State Witch]

25. Yeah... You know what's going to happen

Lucy's gonna pull that football out from underneath Charlie Brown. The Repukes are all going to vote against it anyway.

[Fiendish Thingy]

31. I will celebrate when I hear the details of how the other 2-4 trillion will pass via reconciliation

Without some sort of guarantee that the rest of the funding will be passed via reconciliation, this bipartisan bill from the Gang of 21 isn’t going anywhere- Sanders will block it in the senate, and the Progressive caucus in the house will kill it there.

One scenario of how this might play out:

1) Sanders allows the bipartisan bill to go through his budget committee, and it passes on floor of the senate;
2) the bill now goes to the house for approval; before a vote is held, a new bill with the remaining spending and programs left out of the bipartisan bill is introduced, and Pelosi and Schumer move to pass that bill via reconciliation.
3) if the new bill successfully passes via reconciliation, then the house passes the original bipartisan bill and both bills head to Biden’s desk for signature.

If, however, something or someone sabotages efforts to pass the second infrastructure bill via reconciliation, then the progressive caucus will block the original bipartisan infrastructure bill in the house.

Progressives such as Warren, Sanders, Jayapal, AOC and others have been adamant that the bipartisan bill is but one component of a comprehensive infrastructure “deal”, or package of bills, and will not be allowed to pass on its own.

Fingers crossed…

[maxsolomon]

43. This is how sausage is made. If you can't handle it, don't look.

Fucking Senate, Man. Posturing, bloviating, walking away from the table. All par for the course.

[PoliticAverse]

44. "I believe it is peace for our time." n/t

[stillcool]

49. a little too confusing for me...

this bill plus the other bill have to be passed together, and which bill does what. I hate this part. I can't even read without having an inkling about what's in it, because people just love to beat up Democrats without knowing why. Any excuse will do.

[BumRushDaShow]

52. Here's a blip at how the process works

I.e., one bill would be the actual budget document and the other would be a list of instructions on how much things in that budget should be funded for (i.e., what appropriations will need to be applied), and for how long, etc. But the instructions can't add any non-related "policy riders" on it.

[stillcool]

54. thank you.

every little bit helps.

[BumRushDaShow]

55. You are welcome

The whole thing is confusing but then the regular budget process along with the appropriations process are no better.

(as a now-retired fed, used to have to follow those to see how much "more work" we were going to have to do "with less" or "with nothing", or even with "big cuts" )

[Deminpenn]

53. To me, the big "get" in this bill is beefed up IRS tax enforcement

The bad thing is using "unspent" COVID relief money. This is exactly why federal aganecies make sure they spend every penny allocated to them regardless of what it's spent on is useful, necessary or not.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

57. Moscow Mitch slams Biden for already 'caving' to left on infrastructure deal

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Thursday afternoon slammed President Biden for "caving" to his left flank after the president endorsed a bipartisan $579 billion, five-year infrastructure framework and then threatened to veto it if it's not accompanied by a much larger reconciliation package.

"Less than two hours after publicly commending our colleagues and actually endorsing the bipartisan agreement, the president took the extraordinary step of threatening to veto it. It was a tale of two press conferences," McConnell said on the floor.

McConnell's criticism is the latest sign that the Democratic strategy of trying to pass Biden's infrastructure on two tracks consisting of a scaled-down bipartisan package and a larger partisan reconciliation package will be difficult to pull off.

Biden on Thursday afternoon said he wouldn't sign into law a scaled-down bipartisan package unless Congress also passes his ambitious social spending agenda in a linked reconciliation package, which would likely pass with only Democratic votes.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/mcconnell-slams-biden-for-already-caving-to-left-on-infrastructure-deal/ar-AALpwla

[Hotler]

63. It's not much of a deal when we have to kiss repugs ass. nt