Senate GOP set to give Biden huge political victory

Senate Republicans about to hand over President BidenJoe BidenBiden appoints Mark Brzezinski US Ambassador to Poland 10 dead after overloaded van crash in South Texas New York State Assembly majority backs start of Cuomo impeachment process : AP PLUS a huge political victory by voting for a historic $ 1 trillion infrastructure package that the president can then tout as fulfilling a campaign pledge to restore two-party politics in Washington.

GOP senators and advisers predict that up to 20 Republicans – double the number needed to avoid obstruction – could vote for the legislation, which would provide the most funding in decades for roads, airports, railroads, etc. iron, clean water and other priorities.

“I think everyone pretty much knows what he’s going to do. I think some people are trying to get the yes, ”said a Republican senator who helped craft the legislation that was unveiled on Sunday. “So my prediction is 20.”

The legislation needs 60 votes to overcome the filibuster and achieve final passage, which means no more than 10 Republicans are needed.

But 17 Republicans voted last week to start debate on the bill, and at least many are now expected to support the measure when it is finally passed.

All 50 members of the Senate Democratic caucus are expected to vote for the legislation.

Republican lawmakers insisted at the start of the debate that the entire package be paid for with various compensations. But as the massive bill nears the finish line, GOP senators say they are ready to back it, even as the Congressional Budget Office says it will increase the federal deficit.

Senate Republicans recognize the legislation as a political victory for Biden, although they also see it as a victory for themselves. They say it will give GOP senators something to campaign for in the 2022 midterm election, when Republicans seek to win back a majority in the Senate.

Senate Republican Whip Jean ThuneJohn Randolph ThuneSenate Considering Possible End Of Weekend For T Infrastructure Bill The Hill’s Morning Report – Featured By Facebook – Cuomo Defying Like Biden, Democrats Call For Resignation Senate GOP Focuses On Tackling The 500 billion Biden PLUS budget (SD) said the need to meet the needs of voters trumps more abstract political calculations of how well the bill could help Biden.

“Regardless of what happens in the country’s politics, if you can get people to work together in a way on an issue that is important to the country’s competitiveness,” that’s a good thing, Thune argued.

“You can look back through history and see examples of that, whether it’s 4G [broadband technology] or the interstate highway system, ”he added, citing examples of how federal infrastructure spending has helped the country’s economy.

“I think Republicans are taking advantage of it,” Thune said. “Anytime people work together to try to get results, I think it benefits them in the long run. “

His. Mitt RomneyWillard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyGraham’s COVID-19 Case Shakes Senate The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented By Facebook – Senate Finalizes Biparty 0.2 Trillion Infrastructure Bill Senators Introduce Biparty Bill On the infrastructures during a rare Sunday session PLUS (R-Utah), who will vote for the legislation, argued in the Senate Thursday that the Red States would have gotten much less money for infrastructure if GOP senators had refused to negotiate and forced Democrats to pass a bill. law with only Democratic votes.

“It’s fair to say that if Democrats write an infrastructure bill on their own, my state of Utah won’t be really happy by then,” he said.

But Republicans are divided over whether giving Biden a major political victory is a politically smart move, even if GOP lawmakers who vote for the legislation will share the credit.

His. Josh hawleyJoshua (Josh) David HawleyOvernight Defense: Biden Administration Expands Afghan Refugee Program | The culture war arrives for the registration of women in the draft | US launches third strike in Somalia in recent weeks Coming in culture wars: Adding women to Biden bipartisan deal faces Senate challenge MORE (R-Mo.), Who said he would vote against the bill, noted that “the president is very enthusiastic behind this bill.”

Hawley characterized the bipartisan package as part of Biden’s broader spending agenda, which Democrats plan to complete later this year by proposing an even bigger bill as part of the budget reconciliation process that will allow them to proceed. without any GOP vote.

“It’s really a cohesive program, it’s a very leftist program,” Hawley said. “The president described it as a transformative agenda. He is very clear on this and he will celebrate it as a great victory. He will go to the progressive wing of his party and say that this is a massive down payment on the transformation agenda.

“That’s one of the reasons I think it’s wrong for Republicans to support him,” Hawley added. “In my opinion, it is Republicans who support Joe Biden’s program. “

This point of view is shared by the former President TrumpDonald Trump Majority of Americans in new poll say it would be bad for the country if Trump were to run in 2024. 800 bottles of whiskey donated to Pompeo by Japan are missing Liz Cheney says her father is “deeply troubled” by the state of the Republican Party MORE, who urged Republicans to sink the bipartisan bill, arguing it is a “bad deal”.

Trump attacked Senate Minority Leader last week Mitch mcconnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellOn the money: Trump asks court to block the release of tax returns to Congress | Private sector creates 330,000 jobs in July, well below expectations Senate panel advances first three spending bills McConnell presents GOP demands for government funding deal MORE (R-Ky.) For not putting up more resistance to the infrastructure bill.

“Under the weak leadership of Mitch McConnell, Senate Republicans continue to lose. He’s lost Arizona, he’s lost Georgia, he’s ignored voter fraud, and he’s not fighting. Now he gives Democrats whatever they want and gets nothing in return. No deal is better than a bad deal, ”Trump said in a statement.

McConnell was one of 17 Republicans who voted to proceed with infrastructure legislation. On Monday, he hailed it as “a good and important starting point” before the chamber considered amendments to the law.

Republicans say Trump’s lobbying campaign is having little or no effect.

“I disagree with the former president on this. I think you want to celebrate successes no matter when they happen,” Thune said. “I am looking at the merits of the bill.”

Trump failed to get a major infrastructure bill passed during his tenure, even when Republicans controlled both houses of Congress.

His. Shelley Moore CaptainShelley Wellons Moore Capito White House tries to push back Cornyn’s bipartisan infrastructure amendment Seven-figure ad campaign urges GOP to support infrastructure bill (W.Va.), the leading Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said Trump’s scathing criticisms of the bipartisan bill “really don’t get into the conversation” among GOP senators reviewing legislation.

McConnell, a senior member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, has long touted his ability to provide millions of dollars in federal support to his home state.

The GOP leader often reminded his constituents last year, as he ran for a seventh term, that he had helped Kentucky “gain weight.”

“My last term, $ 17.5 billion for the Commonwealth that wouldn’t have been here if I hadn’t been the Senate Majority Leader,” McConnell boasted during a debate with the Democratic opponent Amy McGrath in October.

McConnell at times seemed to almost apologize earlier this year when he visited supporters at his home and pointed out that he did not vote for the $ 1.9 trillion US bailout in March which would flood their local governments with federal aid.

Now McConnell and other Republicans appear keen to vote in favor of injecting an additional $ 1 trillion into long-term infrastructure investments that supporters say will boost the economy for years to come.

The White House launched a video campaign in June to highlight Kentucky’s crumbling infrastructure, drawing attention to substandard drinking water infrastructure in Martin County.

And White House officials circulated a document on Wednesday noting that Kentucky would receive $ 4.6 billion for highway construction and $ 438 million for bridge replacement in the pending bill.

McConnell encouraged moderate Republicans who negotiated the bipartisan infrastructure bill with the White House by telling them he was keeping an open mind throughout the process.

He gave the legislation new momentum this month by telling his GOP colleagues they should consider it separately from the $ 3.5 trillion reconciliation package that Democrats say they will later pass this year to complete Biden’s infrastructure program.

This advice, however, contrasts with the efforts of other Republicans to tie the pending bipartisan package to the larger “human infrastructure” bill.

“In fact, the bills are not completely separate,” said the chairman of the Republican Senate conference. Jean BarrassoJohn Anthony BarrassoSunday Shows Preview: Delta Concerns Prompt CDC Mask Update; bipartisan infrastructure bill to face Senate challenges Confirmatory treatment of Tracy Stone-Manning was simply unacceptable – and he must stop Former Wyoming Senator Mike Enzi dies after bicycle accident MORE (Wyo.) Said Thursday on the Senate floor. “It would be nice if they are, but they’re not.

“And the reason they are not separated … is because Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiLiz Cheney Says Father “Deeply Distressed” by Republican Party Status 19 House Democrats Call on Capitol Hill Doctor to Mandate Vaccines Ohio Special Election: A Good Day For Democrats MORE [D-Calif.], the Speaker of the House, has made it clear that any bipartisan infrastructure bill passed here in the Senate will not see the light of day in the House of Representatives unless and until, as she said, the Senate also sends him a reckless tax and expense bill of several trillion dollars. “