UPDATE A $2 trillion infrastructure deal outlined last week by President Donald Trump and top Democrats is already losing steam. The tentative deal to repair infrastructure and devote some of the $2 trillion to broadband has run into opposition from Republicans who say it’s too expensive.
Those opposed to the deal include Trump’s top aide, Mick Mulvaney, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY, who is not in favor of the spending, reports The Washington Post.
Mulvaney said Friday, he agrees with the president on a need for an infrastructure package and is trying to identify $1 trillion for that purpose.
“Is it difficult to pass any infrastructure bill in this environment, let alone a $2 trillion one, in this environment? Absolutely,” Mulvaney said.
Senior Republican lawmakers are also actively downplaying any prospects for an infrastructure deal of that scale this year. “I think we need to figure out what we need, and then we can figure out how much it costs to build it,” said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.
Senate Majority Whip John Thune, (R-SD), the party’s main vote-counter in the Senate, called the $2 trillion number “incredibly ambitious” and said he was “still chewing on” the size of the package that Trump is seeking. “The question most of our members are asking is, ‘How are we going to pay for this?'” Thune said. “We’ll see.”
May 7, 2019
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