Senators say they have finally reached an agreement on “major issues” regarding the infrastructure bill. After bipartisan infrastructure talks, Republican senators have reportedly resolved remaining discrepancies in the bill and are set to begin debate as early as tonight according to Senate Majority Leader Schumer.
The Hill reports:
“We now have an agreement on the major issues. We are prepared to move forward,” said Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), who led the negotiations for the Republicans.
Speaking to reporters with the five GOP negotiators after a meeting with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Portman touted the deal and described McConnell as being open to it.
The move is a sharp turnaround after talks stalled on Monday and Republicans blocked the vote to begin debate last week after Schumer attempted to rush the process along. Democrat John Tester, who was involved in the bipartisan negotiations also said Republicans had reached an agreement.
The signs of growing momentum come after President Biden and the bipartisan group announced late last month that they had reached a deal on a framework that would cost $1.2 trillion over eight years.
But since then they’ve struggled to look down the details and how to pay for the agreement. And their fight erupted into public on Monday, as Republicans balked at a “global” offer made by the White House and Schumer.
Schumer and other Democrats have indicated if the group of bipartisan senators reaches an agreement then they are prepared to work through the weekend.
Schumer will need support from 10 Republican senators along with all 50 Democrats to begin debate on the infrastructure bill.