With the White House and Republicans still far apart on an infrastructure deal despite weeks of haggling, some New York Democrats say it is time to get a move on and pursue reconciliation, bypassing Republicans if necessary to get the bill passed.

The White House and Republicans are at odds on the size and scope of a potential infrastructure plan, and where the money would come from to pay for it. 

What You Need To Know

  • The White House and Republicans disagree on the size and scope of a potential infrastructure plan, and how to pay for it

  • Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says the Republicans are not reliable legislative partners and worries the negotiations could just end up watering down any infrastructure plan

  • Rep. Mondaire Jones argued Democrats have the power to go "bold" on infrastructure through the use of reconciliation, allowing them to bypass Republican buy-in in the Senate

  • In an evenly split, 50-50 Senate there is no guarantee that reconciliation would work, especially with some moderate Democrats still holding out hope for a bipartisan deal

The Republican’s latest counteroffer, introduced Thursday, calls for just over $900 billion in spending. President Joe Biden’s recent offer came in at $1.7 trillion — down for his original proposal of roughly $2.3 trillion.

While Biden wants to raise taxes on corporations to pay for it, Republicans want to redirect money approved for COVID relief. 

Democrats voice concerns about negotiations with Republicans

While Senate Republicans said Thursday they are negotiating in “good faith,” some New York Democrats are growing impatient with the talks and the potential outcome they could produce.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive representing the Bronx, said the Republicans are not reliable legislative partners and says she is concerned the negotiations could just end up watering down a plan that Republicans may not even back in the end.

“The Republican party has already shown a pattern of the fact that their vote can’t even be counted on,” she said at a constituent town hall Monday.

Congressman Paul Tonko, who represents Albany, said in a statement that “the latest GOP counteroffer shows they are not being serious about investing in America at the scale we know is necessary.”

A spokesman for Rep. Ritchie Torres, meanwhile, said the Bronx-area congressman does not see it as “worthwhile” to continue negotiations with Republicans given the latest Republican proposal.

Calls for Reconciliation

With divisions remaining, Democrats do have an option to bypass Republicans to get infrastructure legislation over the finish line, and a handful of New York Democrats are leaning in on that option.

In a statement, Congressman Mondaire Jones, who represents Westchester and Rockland counties, endorsed the use of reconciliation.

“Democrats have the power to pass a bold infrastructure bill that meets the moment using the reconciliation process, and we have an obligation to the American people to do so," he said.

The reconciliation process allows for a bill to pass the U.S. Senate with a simple majority. However, in an evenly split, 50-50 Senate there is no guarantee that reconciliation would work, especially with some moderate Democrats still holding out hope for a bipartisan deal.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand told reporters it is the president’s call on whether to abandon talks with the GOP, but said she supports moving ahead with reconciliation now or in the future.

When it comes to the bill itself, she said she is concerned about splitting the plan up, separating traditional “hard” infrastructure into one piece of legislation and social programs into another. The GOP counteroffers focus largely on those traditional projects - omitting other aspects of Biden’s plan.

“If you separate it out, you run a very significant risk that there will not be a coalition for the important things that I care about like paid leave and affordable daycare and universal pre-K but only support for roads, bridges, and sewers. We need both,” she said.