Senate Republicans plan to raise taxes to fund a major infrastructure package, underscoring the rise to bipartisan support for one along the lines of President BidenJoe BidenJobs report adds to Biden’s dynamic The White House says bills are bipartisan even when the GOP doesn’t vote for them. Trump calls for a boycott of MLB to move the all-star game MOREPlan.
The setback, which ranged from members of the leadership to moderates, comes from Democrats gathering ideas for their bill and debating whether to use reconciliation to bypass the filibuster by 60 votes.
Leader of the Senate Minority Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell White House says bills are bipartisan even when GOP doesn’t vote for them. Officer killed in vehicle attack on Capitol Overnight Defense: 1 officer dead, 1 injured after the car hits the Capitol barrier | Army suspends several members of the service for sexual assault MORE (R-Ky.) Predicted Tuesday that no Republicans would vote for a tax hike. The White House has insisted that no one earning less than $ 400,000 a year would raise their taxes, a promise Biden made on the campaign trail.
“I think the Trojan horse is called infrastructure, but the Trojan horse will all be tax increases,” McConnell said.
He added that he was expecting “no enthusiasm for a tax hike on our side”.
To get an infrastructure package passed, Democrats are considering using the budget vote process, which will allow them to bypass the legislative filibuster in the Senate. Otherwise, they would need the support of at least 10 GOP senators.
“I wouldn’t expect it to be well received,” said Sen. Susan CollinsSusan Margaret Collins Republicans don’t believe Biden really wants to work with them Democrats wrestle for infrastructure tax hikes Maine GOP rejects motion to blame Collins MORE (Maine), a moderate Republican who would be high on the list for Democrats looking to win GOP votes.
When asked if their prediction of how Republicans would receive tax hikes was an understatement, Collins laughed and added, “Yes.”
McConnell executive team members also opposed tax increases.
“Tax increases won’t help anyone in our country,” said Senator Rick Scott, Fla., Who oversees the Senate’s GOP campaign strategy.
It is. John BarrassoJohn Anthony Barrasso The lack of cyber funds in the Biden infrastructure plan raises eyebrows. When Congress thinks about infrastructure, rural America must not be forgotten. Hillicon Valley: Another Big Tech hearing | Cyber Command bends operations | Trump’s social media site in the works MORE (Wyo.), The No. 3 Senate Republican, appeared to be referring to a Bloomberg News story published Monday when he said the ideas discussed by the White House were “the most significant tax increase bill in 28 years” .
Bloomberg reported that the White House is discussing a number of possible changes to tax law, including repealing parts of the 2017 GOP Tax Act that lowered the corporate tax rate, raised the tax rate for some high-income earners, and expanded inheritance tax.
White House press secretary Jen PsakiJen PsakiDeSantis Enacts Ordinance Banning Vaccination Passes In The White House Delays Publication Of Budget Plan The Hill’s 12:30 PM Report – Biden Promotes Big Jobs Report MORE On Monday, she told reporters that it was too early to discuss how to pay for an infrastructure package as one had not yet been announced. However, she reiterated that Biden will not impose taxes on anyone earning less than $ 400,000.
“The president remains committed to his campaign promise that no one earning less than $ 400,000 a year will raise taxes,” said Psaki. “His priority and focus has always been on people who pay their fair share and also on companies that may not pay their fair share.”
Democrats have yet to detail the cost of an infrastructure package or how they would pay for it.
But top members of McConnell’s caucus told The Hill this week that there would be little support to reverse parts of the 2017 tax legislation or fund it through deficit spending.
“I can’t imagine Republicans voting for a tax hike,” Sen said. John ThuneJohn Randolph ThuneSchumer switches to re-election mode The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden switches to Filibuster Biden allies are pursuing a two-stage strategy for infrastructure MORE (SD), the No. 2 Republican of the Senate. “I think they’ll find a way to pay for some of these things … [but] We won’t want to reverse the 2017 tax law. “