Talks between West Virginia Senator Shelly Moore Capito and President Biden regarding the passage of a sweeping infrastructure bill are expected to continue as members of Congress move closer to an actual vote.
The President’s meeting with Capito comes in the wake of a new proposal announced by Senate Republicans offering a $928 billion infrastructure package—an increase over the GOP’s initial $568 billion offering, but still significantly less than Biden’s original $2.2 trillion plan.
In the latest Republican offering, spending for roads and bridges have been increased from $299 billion to $506 billion; funding for water projects has jumped from under $50 billion to $72 billion; with airport project funding up by $12 billion over the previous $44 billion proposal.
Funding for broadband infrastructure construction projects has remained the same in both Republican proposals at around $65 billion.
Capito has said that her fellow Republicans want to negotiate in earnest, remarking during a Fox News program: “It’s worth it to show this country that we can work together, we can reach a compromise for the good of everybody.”
Despite the ongoing legislative work on the bill, notes the Wall Street Journal, Biden’s proposal to fund his package by raising the corporate tax rate from its current 21% to 28% has continued to draw “strong objections from Republicans.”
Speaking with reporters, White House Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden wants there to be a “clear direction on how to advance” the infrastructure bill by next week.
By Garry Boulard
