McConnell says GOP won’t support Biden’s infrastructure plan, vows to fight Democratic agenda
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) speaks to reporters after the weekly Republican caucus policy luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington, January 26, 2021.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
Any hopes that Washington could scrape together a bipartisan infrastructure package took a hit Thursday.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters the more than $2 trillion plan the White House unveiled Wednesday “is not going to get support from our side.” The proposal would invest in roads, bridges, airports, broadband, water systems, electric vehicles and job training programs, and raise the corporate tax rate to 28% to offset the spending.
The Republican also vowed to oppose the broader Democratic agenda under Biden, who passed his first major initiative this month in the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package.
“I’m going to fight them every step of the way, because I think this is the wrong prescription for America,” McConnell said at a news conference in Kentucky.
Unless 10 Republicans break with McConnell or Biden revises the plan to win GOP votes, his comment all but assures Democrats would have to use budget reconciliation to pass the infrastructure bill on their own.
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.
