Senate advances infrastructure deal

Lead Republican negotiator Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio left a meeting with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky with news that a bipartisan group had reconciled all major differences on a $1 trillion spending plan. In the Wednesday evening test poll, Senators voted 67-32 to move forward with the infrastructure deal. Supporters included all 50 Democrats and 17 Republicans. The vote allows the Senate to start formal consideration of the plan.

What is in the deal? The first phase designates about $600 billion for spending on highways, transit, broadband access, and other public works projects. The bipartisan negotiators have not clarified how they plan to pay for the deal, but Portman assured constituents that the plan is “more than paid for.” Republicans and Democrats have split over how much should go toward transit and broadband.

Dig deeper: Listen to Mary Reichard discuss bipartisan infrastructure efforts with policy expert Brian Riedl.

Editor's note: WORLD has updated this report since its original posting.