Senate Republicans Already Walking Away From Infrastructure Deal over Expense and Ties to Separate Reconciliation
Wendell Husebø 25 Jun 2021
Senate Republicans are already walking away from the infrastructure deal Friday over its expense, as President Joe Biden ties the measure to a separate reconciliation tactic full of far-left items.
“GOP senators are also concerned that they may get tied to the larger reconciliation package if they give Democratic moderates political cover by joining with them to pass the bipartisan infrastructure proposal,” the Hill reported.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday Biden’s strategy of passing a bipartisan deal tied to a reconciliation package, which is filibuster immune, puts Senators, “who were optimistic about doing a bipartisan infrastructure bill, in the position of our Democratic friends having to guarantee that the 2017 tax bill is unwound.”
“That’s our one red line,” he added.
But there is another reason. “Several GOP senators are questioning a provision that would provide $40 billion to beef up IRS enforcement, which is expected to generate an estimated $100 billion in new revenue that can be spent on infrastructure,” the Hill reports.
The reported items of the deal include:
Reduce the IRS tax gap
Unemployment insurance program integrity
Redirect unused unemployment insurance relief funds
Repurpose unused relief funds from 2020 emergency relief legislation
State and local investment in broadband infrastructure
Allow states to sell or purchase unused toll credits for infrastructure
Extend expiring customs user fees
Reinstate superfund fees for chemicals
5G spectrum auction proceeds
Extend mandatory sequester
Strategic petroleum reserve sale
Public private partnership, private activity bonds, direct pay bonds, and asset recycling for infrastructure investment
Macroeconomic impact of infrastructure investment
more
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/06/25/senate-republicans-infrastructure/
