The White House has knocked hundreds of millions of dollars off its $2.25 trillion infrastructure and social program spending plan, counteroffering a Republican package with a $1.7 trillion proposal.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki borrowed from the title of former President Donald Trump’s memoir, The Art of the Deal, when pressed by a Fox News reporter, describing the administration’s negotiation strategy as the art of “seeking common ground.”
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“This proposal exhibits a willingness to come down in size, giving on some areas that are important to the president — otherwise, they wouldn’t have been in the proposal — while also staying firm in areas that are most vital to rebuilding our infrastructure and industries of the future, making our workforce and our country more competitive with China,” Psaki said Friday.
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The new proposal includes a “shifting” of investments in research and development, supply chains, manufacturing, and small business to other bills, such as the Endless Frontiers and CHIPS measures, Psaki said.
“The proposal also agreed to reduce the funding request for broadband to match the Republican offer and to reduce the proposed investment in roads, bridges, and major projects to come closer to the number proposed by the senators,” she said.
But Psaki said the $568 billion Republican plan did not incorporate investments in clean energy, water quality, workforce training, and the “care economy.”
“We also reiterated, or the intention is to reiterate, the fact that the president is not willing to raise taxes on Americans earning under $400,000 a year through a gas tax or through user fees,” he said.
Senate Republicans met virtually with top White House aides and administration officials Friday during Psaki’s briefing. Presidential counselor Steve Ricchetti, White House legislative affairs director Louisa Terrell, National Economic Council Director Brian Deese, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, and Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg joined the talks.
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The Republican plan suggested $299 billion be spent on roads and bridges, $61 billion on public transit, $20 billion on rail, $35 billion on water, and $65 billion on broadband. While the overall package was estimated to cost $568 billion, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell indicated his conference would be prepared to go as high as $800 billion.
