The White House defended its assertion that the true cost of the Democrats’ $3.5 trillion package to most taxpayers is zero in an at times tense exchange with reporters at Monday’s press briefing.

This has become a talking point in favor of the vast spending bill, which has aroused strong opposition from Republicans and centrist Democrats alike due to its large price tag even as liberals insist it is a necessary companion piece to the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure measure.