President Joe Biden has rejected an infrastructure offer from a group of Senate Republicans led by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, the White House said Friday.
Senate Republicans leading efforts to reach a bipartisan compromise on infrastructure legislation had proposed a $50 billion increase in spending compared to Republicansâ previous offer. In a Friday afternoon phone call between Biden and Capito, the president said their increased offer still fell short of his expectations.
âThe president expressed his gratitude for her effort and goodwill, but also indicated that the current offer did not meet his objectives to grow the economy, tackle the climate crisis, and create new jobs,â White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement.
Biden also told Capito âhe would continue to engage a number of senators in both parties in the hopes of achieving a more substantial package,â the White House said. The two have agreed to speak again Monday.
Capito and her colleagues have proposed an infrastructure plan that would cost $928 billion over eight years, but only $257 billion would be new spending, more than what Congress was expected to approve. The offer was made after Biden proposed a revised $1.7 trillion infrastructure plan, less than the original $2.3 trillion plan he unveiled in late March.
Psaki told reporters during a press briefing Thursday that the administration was open to a ârange of optionsâ on infrastructure. Biden made another concession to Republicans this week, offering to replace his proposed corporate tax rate hike with a 15% minimum corporate rate. (RELATED: Psaki Dismisses Buttigiegâs Timeline For âClear Directionâ On Infrastructure Talks)
Biden also spoke Friday afternoon to Democratic Oregon Rep. Peter DeFazio, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the White House said. The committee is expected to mark up an infrastructure plan introduced by House Democrats that encompasses much of the presidentâs plan, according to Reuters.
The two agreed on âthe benefits of continued engagement with Democratic and Republican senators as the House works on infrastructure advances this coming week,â Psaki said in her statement.
This post originally appeared on and written by:
Varun Hukeri
The Daily Caller 2021-06-04 23:45:00