The Kentucky Republican stated that unless Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer back their threats, then the President Bidens's walk-back his veto threat would have been hollow gesture.Pelosi stated that she would not consider the bipartisan infrastructure agreement, which includes $579 million in new spending on infrastructure, unless the Senate approves a larger package that Democrats can pass with the GOP votes of the evenly divided upper chamber. McConnell's Monday declaration effectively compared her plan to Biden’s now-revocated promise that he would not sign the bipartisan infrastructure agreement without approval of the one party bill.Schumer and Pelosi have always emphasized a dual track approach to their agenda. One with Republicans included and one with only their own party. Senator Joe Manchin (D.W.Va.), indicated this weekend that he supports that strategy and told Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., that the bipartisan agreement must be completed so that reconciliation can take place.On Monday, Kaine was not concerned about McConnell's new position. He predicted that Democrats would incorporate the bipartisan agreement into their party-line package if Republicans bail. McConnell was likened to Lucy in the Peanutts comic strip, who is preparing to take the football from Charlie Brown at the very last moment.He will sometimes take the ball out of the kicker's hands. He has done it before. Kaine stated that it's often more frustrating for Republicans than for Dems. He is very inexplicable.McConnell has been a low-key person to the Democrats strategy. He earlier this month admitted that the Senate would review a bill through the budget reconciliation process in order to avoid a filibuster. We anticipate at some point receiving a reconciliation bill. We will soon find out if there is an additional bipartisan effort.McConnell is now focused on stopping a Democratic bill which would raise taxes on corporations and make trillions of dollars. McConnell is trying to create a wedge between Biden's congressional Democratic leaders.McConnell stated in Louisville that McConnell appreciated the president's willingness to address infrastructure separately. He doesn't control Congress. The order will be determined by the speaker and majority leader of Senate.Democratic senators believe his tactics are only aimed at delaying and forcing them to infighting. He also stated that he is 100 percent focused on stifling Bidens agenda, and last week criticised Biden for making support for the bipartisan bill contingent on his Democratic effort.McConnell has not stated that he will support bipartisan infrastructure bill, which was negotiated by five members of his party. This raises further questions among Democrats as to his motivations for participating in the debate. McConnell said Monday that he was still undecided.McConnell may be minority but McConnell still has significant influence over whether the 50-member conference votes for a bipartisan agreement.Eleven Republicans endorsed the bipartisan group approach to infrastructure at one point. However, there is not yet a bill for the Senate to review and the Senate is currently on a two week recess while staffers and senators prepare the legislation. Republicans doubt that the bipartisan bills funding sources ranging in size from infrastructure privatization to increased IRS enforcement, will actually pay for the bill. This could complicate matters further.McConnell stated that Republicans must verify whether the proposal has been credibly paid for.McConnell could pull his caucus from the infrastructure bill. Democrats could then put everything together and pass it through reconciliation without one GOP vote. Kaine stated that Democrats would tell Republicans, "You killed the bipartisan agreement, but you gave me some good ideas."However, that is not Biden's preference. Neither is it the preference for GOP senators who worked out the deal.Three of those Republicans, Mitt and Rob Portman from Ohio, and Bill Cassidy from Louisiana, praised Biden's clear approach to fighting for the bipartisan physical infrastructure bill as well as the Democratic human infrastructure bill separately.Jen Psaki, White House press secretary, remained steadfast in her clarified approach Monday. She declined to speculate on whether Biden would sign a bipartisan agreement if it reached his desk without a larger, Democrats-only counterpart bill. Psaki stated that it is up to Congress leaders to "determine the sequence" of these two efforts.The Senate Budget Committee Democrats will host a conference call this week to discuss their partisan package. Manchin stated he could support $2 trillion. Kaine suggested $4 trillion. Chair Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), said that he wanted $6 trillion. This would likely be funded by tax increases on capital gains for the highest earners and an increase in the corporate tax rate.
