Sen. Mitch McConnell Says There Will Be ‘Zero’ GOP Support For Biden’s Infrastructure Plan

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R–Kentucky) said at a press conference that he does not expect any Republican senators to support President Joe Biden’s infrastructure package.

“I don’t think there will be any Republican support – none, zero – for the $4.1 trillion grab bag which has infrastructure in it but a whole lot of other stuff,” McConnell told reporters. “We’re open to doing a roughly $600 billion package which deals with what all of us agree is infrastructure… If it’s going to be about infrastructure, let’s make it about infrastructure.”

The “$4.1 trillion grab bag” references Biden’s $2 trillion infrastructure package as well as his $1.8 trillion “American Families Plan.” Biden’s infrastructure bill would provide $174 billion for a national network of charging stations for electric vehicles.

McConnell has previously stated that he will “fight” the infrastructure bill “every step of the way.” In fact, minority leader issued the following statement in April: “My view of infrastructure is that we ought to build that which we can afford and not either whack the economy with major tax increases or run up the national debt even more.”

Senate Republicans have come up with their own $568 billion infrastructure plan to upgrade roads and public transit.

If they cannot get Republicans to compromise, Democrats will most likely try to pass their infrastructure package via budget reconciliation rules, which allow legislation to pass in the Senate with a simple majority vote.

Article by Elizabeth Letsou