Joe Biden will unveil $3 trillion Build Back Better plan in Pittsburgh next week focusing on infrastructure and social programs – including free community college and the biggest tax hike since the ’90s
- The move comes after Biden has spent past days pitching $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan
- Plan to include spending on clean energy, infrastructure, broadband, rail and bridges, and electric vehicle charging stations
- One component involves ‘human infrastructure’
- Free community college and universal pre-K top social components
- Legislative vehicle could be massive budget reconciliation package
- Biden has said he wants GOP support but tax hikes could be an issue
President Joe Biden will tout his emerging massive $3 trillion infrastructure plan in Pittsburgh Wednesday, using the rust belt former steel manufacturing hub to tout his plans to shore up bridges and invest in ‘human infrastructure’ plans like free community college.
The trip will place Biden in a swing state that was key to his 2000 victory. He will use the venue to showcase the city’s transition to an economy now features health care and university jobs following dwindling manufacturing.
The White House says aides are still finalizing details of the plan, but it is set to include many of Biden’s campaign pledges, including big spending boosts on infrastructure programs for roads and bridges.
Advisors are also planning to roll out spending for expanded broadband services, along with green technology like electric vehicle charging stations.
President Joe Biden will tout his emerging massive $3 trillion infrastructure plan in Pittsburgh Wednesday – with a third of the spending focused on ‘social infrastructure’ programs like free community college
The portion focusing on social programs is expected to account for roughly one-third of the $3 trillion package, Punchbowl reported.
Those programs have had debuts in many states in localities, including those under Democratic control such as New York City. The programs include universal Pre-K, paid leave, and child care programs.
Coronavirus relief packages have already included temporary sick leave programs.
Biden plans to tout billions in spending on rail and bridges as part of the $3 trillion plan
Biden called for free tuition at community colleges like the Community College of Allegheny County
Democrats are also calling for universal Pre-K education
Also included will be a proposal, details of which leaked Monday in the New York Times, will be for free community college, a policy Biden spoke in favor of during the campaign.
Officials are looking at using corporate tax rates as a pay-for, boosting them above current 21 per cent levels.
The White House has offered only sketchy outlines about Biden’s upcoming trip. He will travel to Pittsburgh ‘to deliver remarks on his economic vision for the future and the Biden-Harris Administration’s plan to Build Back Better for the American people,’ is all it included in an initial announcement.
White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain has briefed Democratic leaders on the general contents.
It includes a focus on renewable energy that is a priority of progressives who hold sway in the House Democratic caucus.
The White House anticipates breaking the package into pieces – which could run the plans into a wall of GOP opposition in the 50-50 Senate. Trying to shoehorn programs into budget reconciliation legislation would be a way to get some of the program through on a simple majority vote, amid reluctance by some Democrats to nuke the rules requiring 60 votes to break a legislative filibuster.
In addition to the corporate tax hike (President Trump signed a law bringing it down to 21 per cent), the White House is considering moving to hike the top marginal income tax bracket, the Wall Street Journal reported. Those hikes would fund the social component of the package.
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