United States: The White House cuts the cost of an ambitious infrastructure plan to convince the Republicans | international

Republicans’ opposition to President Joe Biden’s ambitious infrastructure plan It forced the White House to cut its initial budget. On Friday, the Biden administration made a counter-offer of $ 1.7 trillion (€ 1.39 trillion), instead of the projected $ 2.25 trillion (€ 1.85 million), to go ahead with the initiative in Congress, a process Democrats had hoped to complete before July. 4. The new proposal comes in response to a package of measures submitted by a group of six Republican lawmakers worth $ 568 billion, which is far below the numbers administered by the White House. The cut failed to convince their political rivals that it was “insufficient” and the parties remained far apart on everything from the size of the plan to how it was financed.

White House spokeswoman Jane Psaki announced on Friday afternoon that the content of the new proposal would be known late in the day. The counter offer excludes funds for research and development, supply chains, manufacturing and small businesses, which will be diverted to another legislative initiative pending in Congress.

Biden had put together an ambitious infrastructure plan – legged, physical or physical, and basic and social facilities, to boost public education or care for the elderly, among other goals – a priority from day one of his tenure, but he always emphasized that he aspired to reach a consensus with Republicans around a general or basic package, in theory for a settlement between the parties.

The new proposal for universal access to broadband in rural areas reduces from $ 100 billion to $ 65 billion, and from $ 159 billion to $ 120, which is the amount earmarked for building or modernizing roads, bridges and large projects, as a White House spokesperson explained. Republicans expect to set aside 48,000 million for this. Although the digital divide is particularly evident in non-urban areas, it also reveals structural inequality. New York City, a Democrat, recently offered free broadband access to 30,000 low-income households particularly affected by the pandemic.

“This proposal shows a willingness to compromise by downsizing [de algunos proyectos]. Climate change.

The reason for the disagreement between Republicans and Democrats is the alleged increase in taxes on higher incomes, through which Biden wants to finance part of the investments. The White House had to remember on Friday that the president agreed not to raise taxes Americans earn less than $ 400,000 a year; It targets taxpayers who earn more than the amount you intend to tax while increasing the tax rate by two and a half points to 39.6%.

The other way to collect to implement an infrastructure plan is A tax reform project to make companies pay more And return the profits of those who pay outside the United States, in countries with greater financial advantage, such as Ireland. The proposed increase in corporate tax is 28%, compared to 21% in effect thanks to Donald Trump’s tax reform in 2017. The centrist Democrats are advocating an intermediary solution, around 25%.

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