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Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure bill survives, for now

President Joe Biden’s uphill quest for the old-time bipartisanship that marked his 36 years in the Senate has finally been achieved, in a $1 trillion bill for massive repair and renewal of the nation’s roads, bridges and other neglected physical assets.

The deal was struck Wednesday through lengthy negotiations between his fellow Democrats and 17 willing Republicans led by Sens. Rob Portman of Ohio. On Friday the Senate voted 66-28 on a motion to proceed on the infrastructure bill that if passed will validate Biden’s long argument that conciliation between the two major parties can still be reached, if good will on each side is given a chance to prevail.

Much more than bringing back the good old days is at stake for Biden. Accomplishing working bipartisanship is the key to enacting his very ambitious legislative agenda to “build back better” from the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. A major part of his effort has been driving the pharmaceutical industry to develop and produce massive amounts of vaccine to cope with the medical crisis, and to oversee their distribution at home and abroad.

Portman, recognizing the popularity of such advances, threw in his support but with reservations about their cost. Another Republican leader, Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, said the bill needed more study and was “not ready” to be voted on. But Biden has said he feels “confident” about its ultimate passage.

Originally, he had called for a roughly $2 trillion infrastructure package financed in part by raising taxes on corporations, to which Republicans objected. But Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer has vowed to keep the Senate in session deeper into the summer to adopt an infrastructure bill.

Early on, the new president created some confusion in saying he was all in on the infrastructure, only to condition it later by saying it needed to be passed “in tandem” with another bill covering what has been called human infrastructure — financial and other aid to workers in the health-care segment. He finally clarified that his first pledge stood while he continued to pursue the second one.

Now his broader legislative package is up for grabs, including extending broadband digital communications services to more rural areas, creating a national network of electricity charging stations for electric-powered vehicles and certain climate-change programs. Many Republican lawmakers continue to oppose raising taxes for such purposes, particularly on large corporations that Democrats contend don’t pay their fair share.

President Donald Trump’s answer was to condemn the “weak leadership” of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, blaming him for the loss of Arizona and Georgia in the 2020 election and charging, “Now he’s giving Democrats everything they want and getting nothing in return,” although the Dems made some concessions in the talks.

Biden meanwhile continues to cope with undecided progressives in his party like Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who in past weeks has put conditions on his willingness to vote for final passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Also, Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah has said he loves the bipartisan deal, but “I can’t stand” the larger one on the size of its budget.

As for Biden, while finally seeing his long-sought search for the old bipartisanship realized in this one infrastructure bill, it may not be enough to bring his overall objectives to fruition. In the end, he may have to rely on his razor-thin Democratic majority to carry the day, amid the real threat of losing it in the 2022 midterm congressional elections.

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