President Biden wants infrastructure bill to be bipartisan, but cost remains point of contention

The GOP has countered with a $600 billion proposal, which includes $160 billion for COVID-19-related causes and extends federal unemployment benefits at their current levels.

News 12 Staff

May 2, 2021, 9:50 PM

Updated 1,254 days ago

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President Joe Biden says he's willing to work with Republicans on his nearly $2 trillion infrastructure plan – but a major point of contention remains to be the cost.
"If you look at all the president's recent proposals, they total more than $4.1 trillion,” says Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). “That's the amount that we spent to win World War II."
Sen. John Barrasso, a Republican from Wyoming, called it a “staggering amount, similar to someone with a new credit card.”
The GOP has countered with a $600 billion proposal, which includes $160 billion for COVID-19-related causes and extends federal unemployment benefits at their current levels.
Although the White House says it wants to work with Republicans on the infrastructure plan, President Biden has hinted that he will consider moving forward without their support – like the way the administration passed its COVID-19 relief bill.
"I think what we'll have to see is whether or not Republicans in Washington join the rest of America in broadly supporting these common-sense ideas to grow our economy and make our families better," said Ron Klain, the White House chief of staff.