Infrastructure Talks With Capito Collapse, As Biden Shifts Strategy

"President Biden ended negotiations with a group of Republicans led by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) over his infrastructure package Tuesday as the two sides failed to strike a deal after weeks of talks.

A key part of Biden’s domestic agenda now enters a new, uncertain phase, as the president shifts his focus to a separate group of Democrats and Republicans in hopes of reaching a deal. But the failure to reach a deal with Capito, something liberals had warned was inevitable, could increase pressure on Biden to ultimately try to forge ahead with only Democrats as he did during the push for a stimulus law earlier this year.

The White House and Capito proved unable to bridge their differences, and they remained far apart on the scope of the package and whether to make changes to tax law to pay for it. Now, Biden will attempt to negotiate with a group of Democrats and Republicans at once, a challenge that could prove more difficult but ultimately lead to more votes."

Seung Min Kim and Tyler Pager report for the Washington Post June 8, 2021.

SEE ALSO:

"Biden Shifts Infrastructure Talks To New Bipartisan Senate Group" (Reuters)

"Biden Ends Infrastructure Talks With Senate GOP Group, Saying Its Plan Fell Short" (NPR)

"Biden's Infrastructure Talks With Gop Collapse Amid Irreconcilable Differences" (NBC News)

"White House Negotiations With Capito-Led Group Of Republicans End Without A Deal" (CNN)

Source: Washington Post, 06/09/2021