President Joe Biden this week launched a new round of infrastructure talks with Congress in a bid to secure a deal on a package by this summer.
Sen. Joe Manchin, a key centrist Democrat, met with Biden at the White House Monday to talk about Biden’s two-part proposal, which includes billions in nontraditional infrastructure spending and requires a tax increase.
On Wednesday, Biden will meet with the top bipartisan House and Senate leaders, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican. Biden also met Monday with Sen. Tom Carper, a Delaware Democrat, and will meet Thursday with Shelley Moore Capito, a West Virginia Republican, as well as five additional GOP lawmakers. Carper and Capito are two top infrastructure negotiators who lead the Environment and Public Works Committee.
Biden is aiming for “progress” on a bill by Memorial Day and wants it signed by this summer, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday. Biden and top Democrats want the legislation passed long before the 2022 election cycle starts, when it might be harder to get swing-district Democrats to agree to tax increases.
But many obstacles remain, including Manchin, who opposes Biden’s plan to pay for part of the massive bill by increasing the corporate tax rate from the current 21% to 28%.
Manchin, fearful of the impact on West Virginia’s economy, particularly small businesses, said he favors a smaller increase to 25%.
Manchin has also questioned the scope and overall cost of the Biden plan, which includes many costly noninfrastructure provisions such as free child care, free community college, and new healthcare subsidies.
Manchin told reporters Monday he met with Biden for “quite a while” and said he spoke to the president “about everything.”
Manchin said he discussed how to pay for the infrastructure bill.
“We didn’t talk specifics. He understands. He’s well versed in what is going on. “
Manchin did not provide details and said the legislation should move through committee and end up on the floor with amendments.
“And let’s see what we come up with.”
He added: “It really was a great conversation.”
Manchin’s support is critical.
Democrats are likely to try to pass the bill using a budgetary tactic called reconciliation. Reconciliation allows certain legislation to pass with only 51 votes instead of 60, but Democrats have a bare majority that requires Manchin’s backing on the bill.
In the meantime, Biden is hoping to win the support of some Republicans.
A group of GOP senators last month proposed a $568 billion infrastructure bill that sticks to traditional roads, bridges, waterways, and broadband projects.
McConnell told Kentucky’s PBS station on Sunday a traditional infrastructure bill would cost $600 billion to $800 billion, signaling he may be willing to spend more than the $568 billion GOP proposal.
