WASHINGTON – President Biden on Saturday stepped back from comments jeopardizing a bipartisan deal for $ 579 billion in new infrastructure spending, and said in a statement that he “left the impression that I was against the very plan I was about.” had agreed to have issued a threat of veto ”. . “
He added that that was “certainly not my intention”.
The admission was an attempt by the White House to save what for a fleeting moment was one of the signature successes for a president hoping to cement a legacy as a bipartisan deal maker. On Thursday, Mr Biden proudly announced the infrastructure deal in front of the west wing, flanked by an equal number of legislators from both parties.
But in an isolated comment at the end of a press conference an hour later, the president deviated from the script, saying that he would not sign the compromise law that had just been announced unless Congress also passed a larger measure, only for Democrats, by much to enact the remainder of Mr. Biden’s $ 4 trillion economic agenda.
“If this is the only thing I can think of, I won’t sign it,” said Mr Biden, answering a reporter’s question at the time of his legislative agenda. “I’m not just signing the bipartisan law and forgetting the rest.”
In essence, Mr Biden was saying aloud what the Liberals in his party wanted to hear. But in the process, the president detonated a political hand grenade in the middle of his own short-lived victory. His Republican opponents took up his statements to suggest that he had negotiated with bad faith. And moderates – who had just left the White House ceremony – were furious at his suggestion that weeks of work be at the mercy of a Democratic wish list.
“No blackmail deal!” South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said on Twitter after approving an initial framework this month. “It was never suggested to me during these negotiations that President Biden hold the bipartisan infrastructure proposal hostage unless a liberal reconciliation package was also passed.”
In his statement, Mr Biden accused Republicans of trying to thwart the infrastructure measure in order to build opposition to the larger spending plan. He blamed Republicans for rejecting the bipartisan infrastructure plan for supporting the other bill called the American Families Plan.
Updated
June 25, 2021, 7:09 p.m. ET
“Our bipartisan agreement doesn’t stop Republicans from trying to thwart my family plan,” Biden said, adding, “We’ll let the American people – and Congress – decide.”
But the president also tried to allay concerns among moderate lawmakers who had negotiated the bipartisan measure that he still supports it.
“The bottom line is, I’ve given my word to support the infrastructure plan, and that’s exactly what I intend to do,” wrote Biden. “I intend to vigorously pursue the adoption of this plan, which the Democrats and Republicans agreed on Thursday. It would be good for the economy, good for our country, good for our people. I stand behind it wholeheartedly, without reservation or hesitation. “
On Saturday it was unclear whether Mr Biden had done enough. But the drama doesn’t seem to have failed the deal just yet. Key senators and aides said Saturday they would go ahead, work out details and legislation, and lobby for the 60 votes required to clear the Senate’s filibuster.
Mr Biden will be publicly promoting it with an event in Wisconsin on Tuesday, officials said.
“People are very committed to what we’ve done,” said Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat of New Hampshire and one of the negotiators. “I didn’t understand that the president was in that position, so I’ll keep working and try to build support for the infrastructure package.”
Legislative text for the bipartisan agreement has yet to be written as Democrats are also working on the second, potentially multi-trillion dollar package that is a priority for liberal lawmakers. But this second package, which is expected to be adopted as part of the reconciliation process, may not be ready for voting until the autumn, given the tough budgetary hurdles it has to overcome.
“There’s no question that there’s still work to be done and he’s ready to roll up his sleeves and work like hell,” said Jen Psaki, White House press secretary, at a briefing Friday.
