Biden, Bipartisan Senators Reach Agreement on Infrastructure Package

President Joe Biden and a bipartisan group of senators reached a deal on an infrastructure package Thursday. The $1.2 trillion package will include $579 billion in new spending over eight years, and focuses on "physical infrastructure" such as roads, bridges, and railroads, as well as internet broadband and water and sewage projects. The deal proposes financing sources for the bill that avoid a gas tax increase and a corporate tax hike; some of those sources include a reduced IRS tax gap, and unused unemployment relief and unused emergency relief funds.  "Bipartisan deals means compromise," Biden said from the steps of the White House shortly after the deal was made. "We all agree that none of us got all we wanted...But this reminds me of the days when we used to get an awful lot done up in the United States Congress." Later on Thursday, Biden said he would not sign the deal unless Congress also approves the second part of Biden's larger infrastructure agenda, focused on social "infrastructure" programs like subsidized child care, elder care and climate change. The bill will need at least 60 votes to pass. 

The story received wide coverage from across the spectrum. Outlets from across the spectrum speculated about the bill's likelihood of passing, as well as the path Democrats might take next to pass the second part of Biden's agenda, focused on social infrastructure.