"Top congressional Republicans are warning Democrats against splitting up the upcoming infrastructure package, raising new doubts for the prospects of bipartisan cooperation on a top Biden priority in the months ahead.
Key GOP senators yesterday threw cold water on reports that the White House is considering advancing some infrastructure components with bipartisan support through regular order, while moving policies favored only by Democrats through the budget reconciliation process, which allows certain bills to skip a Senate filibuster (E&E Daily, March 23).
"If this is what they decide to employ, it's a pretty cynical ploy to try and appeal to Republicans to vote for all that stuff, and then do reconciliation to do all the other hard stuff," Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters in the Capitol.
He said that Republicans have made it "abundantly clear" that they're willing to work with Democrats on infrastructure.
"But if they decide to do that as a ploy to lure Republicans in to vote for the easy stuff and then do all that stuff, the controversial stuff through reconciliation, I don't think our guys are going take the bait on that," Thune added."
Geof Koss and Nick Sobczyk report for E&E News March 24, 2021.
SEE ALSO:
"Bipartisan Lawmakers Introduce $35 Billion Water Infrastructure Bill" (The Hill)
"Biden Faces ‘Moment Of Truth’ As He Weighs Key U.S. Climate Promise" (Washington Post)
"Biden Allies Eye Two-Step Strategy On Infrastructure" (The Hill)
"Manchin Calls For 'Enormous' Infrastructure Package Paid For With New Taxes" (Yahoo! News)
Opinion: "Biden’s Infrastructure Bill Has Two Things Going For It" (Washington Post: Jennifer Rubin)
"Democrats Offer Priorities Via Stand-Alone Infrastructure Bills" (Roll Call)
"Road Is Smoother Than Expected for Infrastructure, Biden Plan or Not" (Wall Street Journal)
"Reauthorizing Highway and Transit Funding Programs" (Congressional Research Service)
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