Saturday May 22, 2021
“Red line” for infrastructure
Republicans reject Biden’s package again
Ex-President Trump failed to implement the promised infrastructure program. Its Republicans oppose a package of measures by the successor Biden, and they immediately reject a scaled-down program. The opposition has clearly defined its “red line”.
US President Joe Biden has downsized his proposed infrastructure program in the face of fierce opposition. Instead of the previously targeted 2.25 trillion dollars, the Republicans will now be proposed a package with a volume of 1.7 trillion dollars, said Jen Psaki, spokeswoman for the office of the President. Some aspects that had been removed from the original draft, such as investment in research and development, would find their way into other templates instead.
The Republicans also immediately rejected the scaled-down project as too expensive and extensive. Republican negotiators said after meeting with the White House the two sides “appear to be further apart” than after a previous meeting with President Biden. A large majority of Americans prefer a compromise solution between the two parties.
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell last week categorically ruled out any package of legislation that would raise corporate taxes. The Republicans had lowered this tax in 2017 under ex-President Donald Trump.
The infrastructure program is one of the central pillars of Biden’s strategy to sustainably boost the US economy after the Corona crisis and to make the country fit for the future. Among other things, it provides for investments in roads and bridges, but also in future technologies and climate protection. It is to be financed through higher corporate taxes.
McConnell and the Republican parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, are calling for approval to be given in a package that is limited to physical infrastructure. Electromobility, care or other “humane infrastructure” are to be removed from the package.
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