5:11
- ABC News
- May 14, 2021
Republicans optimistic on infrastructure deal
They must act quickly if they hope to strike a deal before Biden's deadline.
Price is not necessarily a sticking point for Republicans, there's wiggle room so long as the bill is tailored to traditional infrastructure.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell signaled earlier this week that the price tag could be as high as $800 billion.
\"I made it clear that this was not a stagnant offer from us,\" Capito said after suggesting she was potentially open to raising the price of the bill. \"I didn't want it to be perceived that way at all and I think that was clear. He made it clear that he's sincere in wanting to pursue this and in the end we agreed if it doesn't work, we'll walk away friends.\"
But while Republicans find cost negotiable, there are rigid lines on how to fund the bill.
Biden proposed funding his robust infrastructure plan by hiking the corporate tax rate, a non-starter for Republicans who see this as a referendum on the 2017 Trump tax bill, which some consider the most significant legislative achievement of the former president's tenure.
\"We're not interested in re-opening the 2017 tax bill. We both made that clear to the president,\" McConnell said following a meeting at the White House between Biden and the four Congressional leaders. \"That is a red line.\"
Senate Minority Leader McConnell says he is \"not interested in reopening the 2017 tax bill...that's our red line,\" after meeting with Pres. Biden.
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) May 12, 2021
\"From my perspective, this discussion about the way forward on infrastructure will not include revisiting the 2017 tax bill.\" pic.twitter.com/bFUftxOIYo
During their meeting Thursday Republicans tried to convince Biden that there are better ways to fund the package. They've proposed repurposing previously allocated unused money from the COVID-19 relief bills, as well as private-public partnerships and user fees, like tolls.
It's not yet clear whether Biden is receptive to these funding models, but Republican optimism is clear.
\"I think we moved the ball forward today,\" Capito said.
ABC News' Trish Turner contributed to this report.
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