Potholes Torpedo Infrastructure Bill for Now - “The Sunday Political Brunch” - June 13, 2021

Sunday, June 13, 2021

Mark Curtis, MINDSETTER™

 

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President Joe Biden PHOTO: White House

It has been a busy, fast, and furious week in the world of politics. We have been talking here for weeks about various infrastructure bills being considered by the White House and Congress. Last week President Joe Biden finally pulled the plug on negotiations with Republicans. And if you believe that, “I got a bridge I want to sell you!” Let’s “brunch” on that this week, because talks will resume.

 

“Infrastructure Collapse” – I’ve been following this closely because multi-billion (even multi-trillion) dollar infrastructure bills are a big deal, as they touch every state and Congressional district in the nation. President Biden had been holding direct talks with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R) West Virginia, who was leading the Senate Republican Caucus on this bill. The President initially offered $2.4 trillion, and the GOP countered with $568 billion, then upped the anti to about $978 billion. The White House dropped to about $1.7 trillion, but they were still light year’s part.

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“Breakin’ Up is Hard to Do” – On Tuesday, after a few phone calls and Oval Office meetings to negotiate with Senator Capito, President Biden called her and pulled the plug on further talks. “After negotiating in good faith and making significant progress to move closer to what the president wanted, I am disappointed by his decision,” Capito said. She added that the president was willing to settle at $1 trillion dollars, which tells you they were close.

 

“Is He Just ‘Biden’ his Time?’” – White House Press Secretary Jenn Psaki responded in kind saying, “(Biden) informed Senator Capito today that the latest offer from her group did not, in his view, meet the essential needs of our country to restore our roads and bridges, prepare us for our clean energy future, and create jobs.”

 

“The ‘Third Rail’” – So once direct talks with the GOP collapsed, what happened next? Well, a third group, this one bipartisan, has emerged offering another option. A group of five Democrats and five Republicans has offered a $1.2 trillion dollar infrastructure plan. (Remember a few weeks ago I predicted they’d compromise at $1.2 trillion, so I am not a complete lunatic!) As you might gues,s this group includes lawmakers who are more flexible, instead of rigid party ideologues, such as Sen. Joe Manchin (D) West Virginia and Sen. Mitt Romney (R) Utah.

 

“The Betting Window!” – Folks, here is the bottom line. 2022 is an election year, and control of both the U.S. House and Senate are in play. Do you really think either party wants to leave Washington, DC without an infrastructure bill getting done? Building roads and highways means “bringing home the bacon” to your Congressional district and state. It means direct jobs and a lot of other economic activity. But it must get approved now because construction bids take time to let. BOTH parties know this and know it is value to incumbency. I bet we have a bill signing by Labor Day (highly symbolic) or shortly thereafter. Again, $1.2 trillion is my wager.

 

“The Trump Social Media Launch” – I have written for the past few weeks about the aggressive launch of the new Trump social media platform now that he is banned from Twitter and Facebook. The solicitations have grown more aggressive (if not confrontational). “Humbly asking 1 final time…Do you plan to join Trump if he launches a new social site? You have 1 hour to stand w/Trump & House GOP until link closes.” And then hours later: “Your countdown has expired. You have one final chance. We have been texting you and emailing you for days and your name is STILL MISSING. You have officially 60 minutes left to add your name before the card is locked for good!” Again, to join you must pay money. In my 45 years working in the news media, I have never paid a candidate for content, and never will. It is unethical! And I don’t appreciate the bullying emails. First Amendment equals free press, so get OFF my back!!

 

“Who’s in Control in 2022?” – Many say 2022 may be the most significant midterm election in American history! Oh, I know, we have heard that tale before, but this could be true. Certainly, in my lifetime, the 1994 midterm election may have been the most consequential. Republicans seized control of the U.S. Senate and House for the first time in forty years. It was a stinging rebuke of the first two years of President Bill Clinton’s administration. The margins are so close right now in both chambers, it could cut either way at this point.

 

“Keep Fighter Pilot Amy McGrath on Your Radar” – I said during the 2020 campaign that one of the most impressive candidates I met was Amy McGrath, the Democrat who ran against Sen. Mitch McConnell (R) Kentucky, who was then the Senate Majority Leader. A former military fighter pilot, her resume is impressive, and she is tough as nails. Now she is signed on as a fundraiser for 2022 candidates. Her email headline says Democrats are targeting specific Republicans in 2022. “So far, we’ve announced Sen. Ron Johnson (WI) as our first target. He is easily the most prominent senator from a state Biden won who has repeatedly defended the January 6th attack and perpetuated the Big Lie,” her website says. Game on! As we will see in many races.

 

“Happy Birthday to ‘The Sunday Political Brunch’” – Folks, it was 10 years ago today that this column launched. I have so many supporters and readers nationwide, who have held faith in me in this crazy up and down business. I want to thank my team of editors, Mary Jo Swartz, Mel Bautista, Shirley Ware, my wife Kathi Curtis, and my sister Tyler Curtis, for their weekly support.  Cheers to Al Sandubrae at Nexstar Media, and before, for having my back. Thanks, also to Brian Copeland and Ronn Owens at KGO Radio in San Francisco. I want to thank my politically influential and wise mentor Jamie Dupree for his more than 37 years of guidance, insight, and knowledge  [email protected] . And I give many thanks and gratitude to Josh Fenton and Kate Nagle at www.GoLocalProv.com for their leadership and support. We are making a profit! Cheers, to another ten years!

 

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Mark Curtis, Ed.D., is Chief Political Reporter for the seven Nexstar Media TV stations serving West Virginia, its five neighboring states and the entire Washington, DC media market. He is also a MINDSETTER™ contributing political writer and analyst for www.GoLocal.Prov.com and all its affiliates.

 

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