by David Morgan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republicans in the United States Senate on Thursday unveiled a five-year package at a cost of $ 568 billion to renovate the country’s infrastructure, an alternative plan to the $ 2.3 trillion put forward by Democratic President Joe Biden.
This proposal, seen by Republicans as a good faith basis for bipartite negotiations, focuses on traditional infrastructure projects, while the White House tenant’s project also aims to redesign the US economy by taking measures against climate change and by expanding services to people.
Within the ranks of the Democrats, who have tight control of both houses of Congress, reactions have been mixed. Some said they viewed the Republicans’ proposal as inadequate to meet the significant needs to renovate infrastructure across the country.
The Republicans argue that their project would not require any tax increase but only various taxes already in force and unused federal funds.
The proposal was conveyed during the day to Joe Biden, who had asked Republicans for a “counter-proposal” before mid-May and recently held meetings with bipartisan groups of parliamentarians.
Asked by reporters, Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer did not immediately comment on the Republicans’ plan, stating only that any proposal must be green and not be funded by the American working class.
Republicans denounced the size and scope of Joe Biden’s project, as well as the funding mentioned – including corporate tax hikes.
Mitch McConnell, the Republican Minority Leader in the Senate, said the proposal passed on Thursday had “the potential to be a reasonable, two-party alternative.”
“We hope the Democrats are interested in doing something in this direction,” he added.
(David Morgan and Susan Heavey, with Susan Cornwell; French version Jean Terzian)
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