GOP Calls for Trimmed-Back Infrastructure Bill

Republican lawmakers led by Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell called on the White House to scale back the $2.25 trillion infrastructure-and-tax package President Joe Biden unveiled last month as a prescription for long-term economic recovery.

McConnell and fellow GOP senators pressed for stripping the American Jobs program of all but the more traditional infrastructure elements that have featured in past bipartisan packages. Republicans have also opposed the corporate tax increases aimed at financing the Biden proposals.

Biden and his cabinet have argued that a broad definition of infrastructure is appropriate given the nation’s trenchant challenges with inequality and modern-day economic needs such as money for broadband and expanded federal research and development.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has targeted passage of Biden’s so-called American Jobs Plan in her chamber by July 4. Biden is expected to unveil another, social-program focused plan in coming weeks.