Negotiations between President Joe Biden and Senate Republicans on the Democrat's infrastructure plan collapsed on Tuesday after both sides were unable to settle their differences regarding the amount of the package, its scope and how it would be financed. announced the main negotiator of the Republican Party.
"I spoke with the president this afternoon and he ended our infrastructure negotiations," West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said in a statement.
The abrupt end of the talks will increase pressure on Democrats to pass an infrastructure package through a special legislative procedure that does not require the support of any Republicans, as happened when the $ 1.9 billion stimulus package was approved for the COVID pandemic. -19 in March.
Joe Biden's infrastructure plan not only includes investments in bridges, highways and airports, but also in renewable energy and education.
Getty Images
The talks collapsed after Biden spoke by phone this afternoon with Capito, who according to the White House was not willing, along with other senior Republican officials, to
increase the budget of the package that is destined to be invested in roads, bridges, airports and other public projects in the country.
"He informed Senator Capito today that the latest offer from his people, in his opinion, does not meet the essential needs of our country to restore our roads and bridges, prepare for our clean energy future, and create jobs," he said in a statement Jen Psaki, White House press secretary.
In late May, the White House presented a new proposal to Republicans on its infrastructure plan in which it slashed planned spending from $ 2.3 trillion to $ 1.7 trillion.
The current Republican proposal falls far short of that figure: it's $ 928 billion, which included about $ 330 billion for new investments.
Will the Biden Government solve the 2020 visa lottery with rescheduling of interview?
June 3, 202101: 38
For his part, Capito said that it was the president who had not been willing to give in.
"While I appreciate President Biden's willingness to devote so much time and effort to these negotiations, he ultimately
chose not to accept the very strong and specific
infrastructure
package
and instead to end our discussions," he said.
Weeks of negotiations have passed between the White House and the Senate Republicans, but despite the time invested, no agreement has been reached.
The two sides are far apart on the size of the infrastructure package, what kinds of projects it should pay for and whether to raise taxes on the wealthiest to fund the plan, as Biden proposes.
Capito said that the tax issue is non-negotiable.
"Despite the progress we made in our negotiations, the president continued to respond with offers that included tax increases as a form of financing, rather than various practical options that would not have been detrimental to individuals, families and small businesses," he argued.
Biden ends Trump's 'Stay in Mexico' policy
June 2, 202101: 32
Republicans
strongly oppose Biden's proposed corporate tax increase to
pay for the package, refusing to undo the tax cuts approved in 2017 under President Donald Trump, which lowered the rate from 35% to 21%, to corporations.
Biden proposes raising the corporate tax to 28%.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said that while the negotiations "seem to hit a brick wall," Democrats will try to start new talks between senators from both parties, including Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, and Rob Portman, Republican of Ohio.
"It may well be that part of the bill is passed in a bipartisan way and part of it through the so-called reconciliation (a mechanism that would allow Democrats to pass the plan without Republican support, and avoiding filibusterism). But we are not going to sacrifice the greatness and audacity of this bill, "he said.
Biden calls for an investigation into the alleged COVID-19 infections in China before the first official case
May 26, 202100: 32
This last option would require the unanimous support of all 50 Democratic senators and near unanimity among the Democrats in the House of Representatives.
Biden presented the infrastructure investment plan in late March.
With that package, the president hopes to add millions of better-paying jobs for American families, as part of his economic recovery program 'Build Back Better' (Build Back Better, in English).
The plan - which some consider to be a cornerstone of their economic agenda - also includes elements such as high-speed broadband, the renovation of the electrical network, the replacement of lead pipes in homes and schools, home care for the elderly and disabled people and the generation of clean energy.
With information from NBC News