Public Affairs Director Jennifer Walsh was quoted in an Inc. article, “Biden Greenlights $1.2 Trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework,” about the fate of a proposed bipartisan infrastructure plan that would plow billions into shoring up America’s crumbling bridges and highways and upgrading key ports and transit systems.
While the framework is bipartisan, getting the bill passed is hardly assured, Walsh pointed out. One sticking point: Lawmakers plan to repurpose unused funds from last year’s emergency relief legislation, some of which is targeted to health care providers who may still want access to it.
That’s going to “create a lot of friction,” Walsh said. “I know there’s a lot of anxiety in the health care provider community. There are still some unspent funds in the provider-relief fund.”
Progressive Democrats are also reluctant to bless the measure without first seeing a reconciliation bill – President Biden’s American Families Plan – which is expected to contain tax increases on the wealthy and boost the corporate tax rate to 28 percent from 21 percent. Walsh said the tax boost might rub some lawmakers the wrong way, though she believes that bipartisan momentum will prevail.
“I don’t think they would have worked so hard to negotiate this,” to let taxes get in the way, she said. “I have to believe they are looking for a win.”
