Today, a bipartisan group of Senators and the White House reached a deal on a major $1.2 trillion infrastructure overhaul, which will help America recover economically from the pandemic and rebuild our failing roads, bridges and dams.
Will Marshall, President and Founder of the Progressive Policy Institute, released the following statement:
“The greatest challenge facing President Biden and his party is to show they can govern our country effectively after four wasted years of Donald Trump’s divisive and incompetent presidency. They need to prove to doubters here and around the world that democracy can deliver.
“Now the President has negotiated a deal with Senate Democrats and Republicans for a massive national push to modernize America’s aging economic infrastructure.
“The magnitude of this accomplishment should not be understated. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework would roughly double federal infrastructure spending over the next eight years, including a big and well-targeted investment in rural broadband. Crucially, it will lay new foundations for the inclusive innovation and growth our country needs to reduce inequality and win the contest with China for economic and technological leadership.
“The bipartisan deal also fulfills Biden’s central campaign pledge — to govern in the interests of all Americans, including those who didn’t vote for him. Democrats shouldn’t forget that Biden’s promise to bridge rather than deepen the nation’s political and cultural divides was key to his 2020 election.
“Nonetheless, Sen. Bernie Sanders has declared he won’t back the bipartisan deal. That’s his prerogative. But Democrats should stand with President Biden.
“We’re also disappointed that some important features of the White House’s original jobs plan were dropped in the difficult negotiations with Capitol Hill lawmakers. But that’s part of the normal give and take of representative democracy.
“We have no doubt that the President will continue to push for additional investments in scientific research, clean energy, and strengthening social programs for children in need. We hope that any reconciliation bill passed to supplement this agreement will be fiscally responsible and encourage the White House to consider a broader package of revenue-raising options.
“On the whole, however, we think it is good for the nation’s democratic health to see bargaining, horse-trading, and compromise return to Washington.
“Democrats shouldn’t heed the demands of left-wing purists who are better at making maximalist demands than winning majority support for them. It was the pragmatic Joe Biden, after all, who flipped five states from red to blue and soundly defeated Trump by more than seven million votes.
“He won the popular mandate, not his dogmatic critics. That’s why Democrats should give President Biden the benefit of the doubt and seize this opportunity to deliver concrete benefits to the American people.”
The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) is a catalyst for policy innovation and political reform based in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to create radically pragmatic ideas for moving America beyond ideological and partisan deadlock. Learn more about PPI by visiting progressivepolicy.org.
Follow the Progressive Policy Institute.
###
