The underpinnings of America’s roads and bridges, tunnels and railways – that’s what a group of Democratic and Republican senators say they want to repair, along with expanding broadband internet. President Biden agrees. So you’d think it would be a done deal. Well, let’s start there with NPR senior Washington editor and correspondent Ron Elving, who joins us now. Good morning, Ron.
RON ELVING, BYLINE: Good morning, Leila.
FADEL: So Biden says he has a deal, but it’s not a done deal. Where do things stand this weekend?
ELVING: Stand might be a little strong as a term. This is a deal with its feet firmly planted in midair at this point. There was a deal earlier in the week, as you say, and it seemed on the brink of unraveling on Friday. And now, Biden has to thread a very fine needle here. He has to get at least 10 Republicans in the Senate, but he can’t afford to lose even one Senate Democrat in the process. And, of course, there’s no actual bill yet, no legislative language. There is only a framework built around billions of dollars in big boxcar amounts, like 109 billion for roads and highways, 65 more for broadband build-outs, 49 for transit systems, 7.5 – and these are all billions now – for charging stations for electrical vehicles. And those are the priorities in this deal at this point.
