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Democrats who want to get a bipartisan accomplishment in the books now argue that it would fulfill Biden’s 2020 campaign pledge to work with Republicans and restore some civility to Washington.
“I think this is a starting point for discussions,” said Sen. Mark Warner
The White House also welcomed the proposal. “It’s the beginning of a discussion,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki
But other Democrats want to “go big” right now and aren’t interested in deferring action on two-thirds of Biden’s infrastructure agenda to later in the year, when the political dynamic may be different.
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Manchin, speaking at a press conference with a bipartisan group of lawmakers and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), said the administration and Congress should take Biden s plan step by step and focus first on areas that could get bipartisan support like water, roads, bridges and the internet.
ADVERTISEMENT What we think the greatest need we have now, that can be done in a bipartisan way, is conventional infrastructure whether it s the water, sewer, roads, bridges, Internet things that we know need to be repaired, be fixed, Manchin said. Why don t you take the greatest need that we have and do it on something that we all agree on? Manchin added.