Mitch McConnell says NO Senate Republicans will back Biden's $4trillion spending plan 


Mitch McConnell says NO Senate Republicans will back Biden’s $4trillion spending spree and will fight his tax hikes to get a slimmed-down $600billion package

  • McConnell said Democrats should expect ‘zero’ support from Republicans
  • He spoke in Louisville amid negotiations over the plan
  • Weekend press reports focused on replacing major bridge in his state 
  • He said only part of the infrastructure plan was for infrastructure
  • Senate moderates have countered with $568 billion infrastructure proposal
  • Biden wants $2.3 trillion on infrastructure and $1.8 trillion on ‘human infrastructure’ 

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell predicted that ‘zero’ Republicans in his chamber would back President Joe Biden’s infrastructure proposal and ‘American families plan.’ 

McConnell, who has previously blasted Biden’s infrastructure and other spending proposals – as well as tax hikes that would pay for them – re-upped his criticism after a group of Republicans got behind a $568 billion infrastructure proposal.

‘I think I can pretty safely say none of my Republican colleagues are going to support a $4.1 trillion infrastructure package, only part of which is for infrastructure,’ he said.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said there would be 'zero' GOP support – 'none' – for President Joe Biden's $4 trillion in proposed spending on infrastructure and 'human infrastructure'

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said there would be ‘zero’ GOP support – ‘none’ – for President Joe Biden’s $4 trillion in proposed spending on infrastructure and ‘human infrastructure’

Biden and other Republicans have slammed Biden for his definition of infrastructure, which includes spending to expand broadband technology and replace lead pipes across the country. 

Biden has also come out with a $1.8 trillion ‘human infrastructure’ plan, which includes funding for job training, universal pre-K, and free community college. 

‘If it’s going to be about infrastructure, let’s make it about infrastructure. And I think there’s some sentiment on the Democratic side for splitting it off,’ McConnell said. 

He may have been referencing efforts by Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) to negotiate with Republicans on their offer to reach a potential compromise.

Manchin last week called the GOP offer a ‘good start,’ and spoke of the benefits of negotiating a solution.

President Joe Biden has invited GOP Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.) to the White House

President Joe Biden has invited GOP Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.) to the White House

McConnell was the subject of weekend reports about the Brent Spence Bridge over the Ohio river. The crossing is considered to be in critical need of expansion

McConnell was the subject of weekend reports about the Brent Spence Bridge over the Ohio river. The crossing is considered to be in critical need of expansion

Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, speaks to members of the media after meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. The $600 billion GOP proposal offered to the president by 10 Republican senators provides the potential to move a bipartisan bill that includes components from the Biden proposal

Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, speaks to members of the media after meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. The $600 billion GOP proposal offered to the president by 10 Republican senators provides the potential to move a bipartisan bill that includes components from the Biden proposal

‘And they have worked it together. So, we know it has bipartisan support,’ Manchin said on CNN’s ‘State of the Union’ last week. 

‘We just have to look to see if we have gotten everything in there that we need. And we will be working on that together. So, I’m very, very pleased with that.’ 

 Depending on what happens with Senate Republicans, Democratic leaders must decide whether to try to move Biden’s proposals under budget ‘reconciliation’ procedures. That would allow it to pass on a simple majority – but they would still need support from Manchin and other Democrats in the 50-50 Senate.

Depending on how they craft reconciliation instructions, Democrats could move one or even two packages, or combine them into a single package. 

“I don’t think there will be any Republican support — none, zero — for the $4.1 trillion grab bag that has infrastructure in it but a whole lot of other stuff,’ said McConnell, conflating the two plans.  

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