Biden says he's open to compromise with Republicans on $2 trillion infrastructure plan

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Washington Post

President Biden on Wednesday called for Republicans to negotiate with him on his $2 trillion infrastructure package but said inaction was unacceptable. “Debate is welcome,” he said at the White House. “Compromise is inevitable.” He said he will be “open to good ideas and good-faith negotiations.” He has so far not backed down on his planned corporate tax hikes amid bipartisan unease over his massive infrastructure proposal. The Department of Treasury on Wednesday outlined an aggressive set of tax increases on businesses to raise about $2.5 trillion over 15 years.

These changes, if approved by Congress, would be meant to offset the jobs and infrastructure package Biden wants to enact into law. In a 19-page report, Treasury officials called for more than a half-dozen tax measures affecting U.S. firms, including an increase in the corporate tax rate and subjecting the overseas earnings of businesses to higher tax rates. These tax proposals are likely to prove the most controversial element of Biden’s infrastructure legislation, and have already drawn criticism from both congressional Republicans and some Democrats.

Biden has defended the proposed tax hikes as necessary to pay for his more than $2 trillion jobs proposal, which would devote hundreds of billions of dollars to repairing America’s infrastructure and supporting clean energy technology, among myriad other measures. Unlike the $1.9 trillion stimulus plan that passed in March, the cost of which was almost entirely added to the national debt, the White House has said it will seek to pay for the infrastructure plan through tax hikes on businesses and corporations.

Fifty-five corporations saw zero federal tax liability in 2020, according to a report this week by Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a left-leaning think-tank. The amount of corporate tax revenue raised by the government has fallen from above 2 percent of U.S. Gross Domestic Product before the GOP tax law to half that, the Treasury report says. “Here you have 51 or 52 corporations of the Fortune 500 haven’t paid a single penny in taxes for three years. Come on, man. Let’s get real,” Biden said earlier this week, after walking off Marine One.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/04/07/yellen-corporate-tax-infrastructure/

[Faux pas]

1. ...

Why? So they can strip it to NOTHING?

[Irish_Dem]

2. No No Joe.

Don't start being nice.

[doc03]

3. They will whittle it down to nothing then not vote for it anyway. nt

[Mme. Defarge]

4. In Joe I trust!

To get it done, and done right.

[PortTack]

8. Same! He learned as VP that they will not negotiate. He's putting it out there...that's all

[bucolic_frolic]

5. As they would say in the 60s

He's going to jawbone them.

Recall Paul Ryan slinking off the stage after Joe laughed and talked him to sludge with just the right amount of incredulity, skepticism, light sarcastic barbs, and even subcutaneous braggadocio. There's more than a little good-natured dominant Irish in this President.

Republicans do not realize their brand is so crushed and the entire country is moving against their ideas. They are in for a rude awakening on the wrong side of public opinion.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. I agree with this

I think this is a "public" shot at and on behalf of Manchin, and I also saw the other article from the distaff side regarding the Manchin wing ("Problem Solvers Caucus" ) of the party - i.e., Coons literally drawing a "line in the sand".

[DEbluedude]

7. "Compromise is inevitable." He said he will be "open to good ideas and good-faith negotiations."

Compromise is inevitable ONLY if we give in to THEIR demands. Good faith negotiations? With these assholes? Really? C'mon man. Fuck them.

[Turbineguy]

9. That would mean

a $4 trillion tax cut for the rich.

[Phoenix61]

10. The key being "good ideas and good faith".

This reminds me so much of when Pelosi said she didn’t want to impeach Trump until of course she did. I didn’t think he’ll budge much if any but now he can say he tried.

[LiberalLovinLug]

11. IF the do compromise. Keep it to a very minimum given up

If they want cuts, make them at least 50% allotted their elected districts. And....this is another Obama era failing.......publicize exactly what Republicans are adding or stripping out. Let the people know, even specifically, for instance, that the new bridge in their community is being cut...because of Republicans. Make a list of everything that the public COULD have had, but in order to make it a bipartisan bill, Democrats had to accept cutting these benefits to the public at Republican's insistence.

[aocommunalpunch]

12. THEY WON'T VOTE FOR IT.

It's impossible to say this with greater clarity. Please frame all discussions in this light. Put the fucking pressure on these conservative dipshits who keep playing this game.

[Ford_Prefect]

13. They'll pretend to negotiate, then declare it pointless, then try to sink it all, and then blame

Biden and Democrats for not playing fair. It's all about owning the Dems.

[Sucha NastyWoman]

14. No Joe, don't do it

Make it BIGGER!

[apnu]

15. Sure. There is a limited # of times to use Reconciliation

If the GOP compromises, Dems get to keep the Reconciliation card in their pocket.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

16. but bluntly warned Republican opponents of the plan that he would "not be open to doing nothing."

Biden pushed back against critics who have argued that his sprawling plan contains elements — such as the renovation of veterans’ hospitals, expansion of broadband internet and anti-poverty programs — that do not fit the traditional definition of infrastructure.

“To automatically say that the only thing that’s infrastructure is a highway, bridge, or whatever, that’s just not rational,” said Mr. Biden, who urged Republicans to ask working-class Americans “what infrastructure they need to build a better life, to be able to breathe a little bit,” rather than rejecting his proposal on sight.

“I don’t know why we don’t get this,” added Mr. Biden, flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris as he delivered remarks in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, veering off script repeatedly to deliver an impassioned, at times exasperated plea of support.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/biden-says-hes-willing-to-compromise-on-infrastructure-plan/ar-BB1fp9k2?li=BBnb7Kz

[BumRushDaShow]

17. And then had Coons draw the line in the sand!

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142725272

[bluedigger]

18. He should have opened at $3T.

Play to win, Joe!

[rickyhall]

19. $10k, more like.

[mac2766]

20. Perfect tactic in my opinion.

Just like the republican health care bill.... All that the republicans have to offer is a big fat No. They don't have an alternative plan. This tactic will bring that fact to light - or should.

What I believe needs to be said is that without additional, or improved infrastructure, the rich will begin to see their riches slowing down. If workers can't get to work, or can't get a secure and stable Internet connection, they may not even be able to work from home, or get a degree that a company can use to generate even more wealth for the company. It's all about a means to an end. If the rich want to remain rich, they'll at least have to pay for infrastructure so that they can continue building on their grotesquely massive amounts of money.

[Maxheader]

21. Sure, the wingers will be fishing for freebies, as usual.

Out of 2000000000000$..?...common..