Pelosi said the plan would be “ambitious, bold and transformative. But it also raises concerns about how it will be paid for.
Pelosi announced the decision in a statement. The statement described hope for possible bipartisan cooperation on the matter. But hopes for bipartisan cooperation were dashed in the previous outbreak relief plan. Democrats passed a $1.9 trillion bailout package in accordance with their own party’s unilateral wishes, bypassing the Republicans. Republicans, on the other hand, denounced it as a “liberal wish list” because it contained massive, non-Epidemic-related spending.
Pelosi said, “Building our transportation system has always been something that both parties have been able to work together on.” “We hope that spirit will continue to prevail as we address other critical needs in energy and broadband communications, Education and housing, water systems and other priorities.”
Democrats just passed the American Rescue Plan in the Senate with the help of the budget reconciliation process. The process allows Democrats to pass legislation without having to get any Republican support. Democrats are eager to get some members of the Republican Party on board, both to appeal to outside eyes and to prevent Republicans from taking drastic measures to thwart Democrats’ attempts to eliminate the “delaying tactics” rule.
Biden had campaigned heavily on being a “united” candidate who could cross the bipartisan divide and get important bills through Congress. But the American Rescue Plan, which Democrats managed to pass on their own over the objections of Republicans, has weakened that image.
And Democrats are seeking the so-called “nuclear option,” a break in the Senate’s delaying, obstructionist rules of procedure – most legislation must meet the 60-vote absolute majority threshold to pass – that is both highly controversial and unpopular. — is both highly controversial and has been met with verbal opposition from some within the Democratic Party.
Senator Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, is one of those opposed to repealing the obstructionist rules. He warned his fellow Democrats not to ignore Republican opposition and act recklessly.
Manchin told “Axios on HBO” in a March 8 interview that he will block Biden’s next major legislative proposal unless he makes more of an effort to engage Republican voices.
In the interview, Manchin complained that the American Rescue Plan could have won the support of some Republicans with some concessions.
A big question mark remains how to pay for the huge spending on the infrastructure package – what Pelosi called “bold changes”. Concerns about the cost of infrastructure and differing views on how to fund it have kept Congress from approving a major infrastructure package for more than a decade.
So far, Democrats have been careful to avoid putting a price tag on the initiative, which is rumored to cost at least $2 trillion.
In an interview with the Sacramento Bee, Rep. John Garamendi, a California Democrat, said that as a way to pay for the infrastructure plan, Biden is considering raising taxes, including an excise tax on fuel, some form of highway user fee on electric vehicles and a carbon emissions tax. The Sacramento Bee did not provide specifics on the tax hike or the total cost of the infrastructure package.
Republicans oppose many of the provisions of the Democrat-passed “American Bailout,” including about $850 billion for some Democrat-run states and local governments. Republicans have repeatedly called it a bailout for Democratic-led states and cities that have been mismanaged.
During the presidential campaign, Biden pledged to invest $2 trillion to fix America’s highways, bridges and airports; build climate-resilient homes; lay out broadband Internet for cities; and encourage the production of fuel-efficient cars and the installation of electric vehicle charging stations.
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