With infrastructure deadline looming, Biden will meet with GOP senator in hopes of striking deal

remember their sacrifice, their valor and their grace for President, Biden a deeply personal day of remembrance Memorial Day, always a heavy moment for any commander in chief, particularly poignant for a president clinging tightly to the memory of his son, always feel both close to me. At memorial Day, an Iraq war veteran who died of brain cancer six years ago yesterday marked the anniversary of his death. And it's a hard time, hard time of year for me and our family, just like it is for so many of you it can hurt to remember. But the hurt is how we feel and how we heal. Reflecting on true sacrifice. Biden drew attention to all of those who gave everything for their country. Our freedom and the freedom of innumerable others has been secured by young men and women who answered the call of history and gave everything the service of an idea, the idea of America using it to underscore, has long held view of the stakes of this moment. Democracy itself is in peril here at home and around the world. What we do now, what we do now, how we honor the memory of the fallen will determine whether or not democracy will long endure and the responsibility that requires from all americans, democracy thrives when the infrastructure of democracy is strong, turning from the infrastructure of democracy to the infrastructure of the country itself in a crucial week and a tough road ahead for biden's investment plan, just a week from tomorrow, we need a clear direction. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg setting a clear deadline with republicans as their ongoing negotiations inch forward, telling jake tapper. The president keeps saying, inaction is not an option and time is not unlimited here negotiations that to this point still leave the two sides far apart, including on the top line cost with the White House sitting at $1.7 trillion and republicans at 928 billion, but only a fraction of that representing new spending. Senator Shelley moore Capito, the lead GOP negotiator set to speak with Biden this week and expressing optimism for a potential outcome and trust in Biden's intentions. I think we're building those blocks towards towards a really good solid infrastructure package that has bipartisan support.

President Joe Biden is set to meet Wednesday with West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, the top Republican negotiator on infrastructure as the administration signals time is running out to strike a bipartisan deal on the White House's big investment proposal and top legislative priority.The president is looking forward to hosting Capito, a White House official said, speaking ahead of the afternoon session on condition of anonymity. The official said the two will continue bipartisan negotiations. The administration's deadline for a deal is June 7."He's appreciative and heartened by the good faith effort that we've seen from Republican senators but as the president said last week we do need to finish these negotiations soon," White House Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Tuesday traveling with the president on Air Force One to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he is scheduled to deliver remarks to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre.In the latest round of talks, Biden and a core group of GOP senators appear to have pulled farther apart as they try to narrow the gap between the president's more sweeping initial ideas for a massive investment and a GOP approach that is more focused on traditional infrastructure projects.Biden's own thinking is that the Republican proposal, now $928 billion, is unworkable because the Republicans want to tap unspent COVID-19 funds to pay for the spending.The White House has pared back the president's initial $2.3 trillion bid, now tallied at $1.7 trillion, with Biden proposing to raise the corporate tax rate, from 21% to 28% to pay for it."I think we can get to real compromise, absolutely, because we’re both still in the game," Capito said over the weekend. "I think the president told me himself that let's get this done."Congress is away for a weeklong Memorial Day break, but faces a deadline when lawmakers return next week.Without a bipartisan agreement, Biden will be faced with trying to muscle support from Democrats alone. That approach also poses political challenges in the narrowly divided House and Senate where the administration has few votes to spare if the president tries to push the package to passage under budget rules that allow for a majority vote.Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on Sunday by the time Congress resumes, June 7, "we need a clear direction."Buttigieg said, "The president keeps saying inaction is not an option. And time is not unlimited here." He said the American people "expect us to do something."The White House said the president is also eyeing action in the House that week when the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is set to begin debating a big highway reauthorization bill that is being closely watched as a potential building block toward the broader package.Jean-Pierre noted the panel's June 9 hearing as "a relevant date in terms of the overall time frame."That week, she said, "will be incredibly critical."____________Associated Press writers Darlene Superville and Jonathan Lemire contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON —

The president is looking forward to hosting Capito, a White House official said, speaking ahead of the afternoon session on condition of anonymity. The official said the two will continue bipartisan negotiations. The administration's deadline for a deal is June 7.

"He's appreciative and heartened by the good faith effort that we've seen from Republican senators but as the president said last week we do need to finish these negotiations soon," White House Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Tuesday traveling with the president on Air Force One to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he is scheduled to deliver remarks to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre.

In the latest round of talks, Biden and a core group of GOP senators appear to have pulled farther apart as they try to narrow the gap between the president's more sweeping initial ideas for a massive investment and a GOP approach that is more focused on traditional infrastructure projects.

Biden's own thinking is that the Republican proposal, now $928 billion, is unworkable because the Republicans want to tap unspent COVID-19 funds to pay for the spending.

The White House has pared back the president's initial $2.3 trillion bid, now tallied at $1.7 trillion, with Biden proposing to raise the corporate tax rate, from 21% to 28% to pay for it.

"I think we can get to real compromise, absolutely, because we’re both still in the game," Capito said over the weekend. "I think the president told me himself that let's get this done."

Congress is away for a weeklong Memorial Day break, but faces a deadline when lawmakers return next week.

Without a bipartisan agreement, Biden will be faced with trying to muscle support from Democrats alone. That approach also poses political challenges in the narrowly divided House and Senate where the administration has few votes to spare if the president tries to push the package to passage under budget rules that allow for a majority vote.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on Sunday by the time Congress resumes, June 7, "we need a clear direction."

Buttigieg said, "The president keeps saying inaction is not an option. And time is not unlimited here." He said the American people "expect us to do something."

The White House said the president is also eyeing action in the House that week when the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is set to begin debating a big highway reauthorization bill that is being closely watched as a potential building block toward the broader package.

Jean-Pierre noted the panel's June 9 hearing as "a relevant date in terms of the overall time frame."

That week, she said, "will be incredibly critical."

____________

Associated Press writers Darlene Superville and Jonathan Lemire contributed to this report.

With infrastructure deadline looming, Biden will meet with GOP senator in hopes of striking deal

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