Democrats' climate-focused infrastructure pitch already running against headwinds

By Tanya Snyder
·2 min read

House Democrats want to include a climate-heavy infrastructure plan they outlined two months ago in a fourth coronavirus recovery package, even amid renewed Republican calls to reject anything resembling the "green new deal."

Renewed interest in pushing a big-spending infrastructure plan has emerged in recent days, but could be overwhelmed by climate politics. The $760 billion package House Democrats unveiled in late January would heavily invest in rail and transit, as well as broadband, vehicle electrification infrastructure and climate resiliency.

“Always focusing on emergency and mitigation we go to the next phase, which is of recovery,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on a call Wednesday with reporters. “As we work to address the immediate health emergency, mitigate the economic impact and lay the foundation for a strong recovery we must take bold actions to renew america’s infrastructure.”

During the negotiations over the last coronavirus relief package, President Donald Trump accused Democrats of “asking for things that have nothing to do with our great workers or companies“ including provisions related to the “Green New Deal.“

On Wednesday, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Republicans are ready to work in tandem with Democrats "to support the individuals and institutions that will need more help in the fight against the virus," but that we "cannot afford the distraction of continued attempts to force partisan objectives into our response." Specifically, McCarthy mentioned carbon offsets for airplanes, "remaking" the energy grid "or changing election laws."

But there may be enough bipartisan support for an infrastructure package to move it through, despite previous partisan rancor and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell‘s warnings that he wants to take things slow.

McConnell said Tuesday that he’s “not going to allow this to be an opportunity for the Democrats to achieve unrelated policy items that they would not otherwise be able to pass.”

But it’s not just Democrats pushing for an infrastructure component to coronavirus aid. Trump on Tuesday tweeted his support for an infrastructure plan that would dwarf what the Democrats are planning.

“With interest rates for the United States being at ZERO, this is the time to do our decades long awaited Infrastructure Bill,” he tweeted. “It should be VERY BIG & BOLD, Two Trillion Dollars, and be focused solely on jobs and rebuilding the once great infrastructure of our Country! Phase 4”

Neither the House nor the Senate plans on coming back to Washington before April 20 at the earliest.