Sen. Rob Portman reaffirmed Senate Republicans’ commitment to getting a bipartisan agreement on an infrastructure package on Sunday.
Portman is one of 11 Republicans in talks with 10 Senate Democrats and members of the Biden administration to get a bipartisan infrastructure deal, which would prevent the upper chamber from using the reconciliation process to advance legislation. The reconciliation process would be able to pass a bill without GOP support if all Democrats vote in favor of it.
“I think we’re absolutely committed to it, and I think there is a number of others, as well, on both sides of the aisle,” Portman said on NBC’s Meet the Press. “There is a lot of interest in having a bipartisan proposal.”
BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE TALKS EXPAND WHILE LAWMAKERS FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR IT
EXCLUSIVE: @SenRobPortman tells #MTP: The group of 11 Republicans pushing for a bipartisan infrastructure deal is “absolutely committed.”
Portman: “I think there is a number of others on both sides of the aisle. … There is a lot of interest in having a bipartisan proposal.” pic.twitter.com/CVOqWByats
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) June 20, 2021
Last week, a smaller group of bipartisan lawmakers came to a new agreement on a proposal that would total $974 billion on infrastructure projects such as roads and bridges, waterways, and expanded broadband. The proposal would include about $579 billion in new spending over five years but is still far less than President Joe Biden‘s $1.7 trillion proposal.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Wednesday that lawmakers will continue moving forward on two different tracks that would consider bipartisan legislation, as well as a Democratic-led bill that would pass using reconciliation. Schumer began the reconciliation process through a meeting with members on a budget resolution.
A key element of the disagreements between lawmakers, outside of the cost, is what is defined as broadband, as some Democrats are seeking structural reforms related to healthcare and climate change.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is working with Schumer on a package, argued that the bipartisan proposal does not do enough to fund the areas he and other Democratic members want.
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“What they are talking about spending money on is reasonable. It’s exactly what we are talking about. Our infrastructure is crumbling. We need to invest in roads, bridges,” Sanders said Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union. “On the other hand, absolutely, we’ve got to go forward with the needs of working families in terms of child care, paid family and medical leave, climate, etc.”
