Progressive Democrats working on a bipartisan infrastructure deal hardened their position on the legislation after tense talks Monday.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., a member of the Senate Democrats’ leadership team, came out against a bipartisan agreement Monday night after meeting with a bipartisan group of 10 senators.
“I wouldn’t vote for it,” Sanders told reporters. “The bottom line is there are a lot of needs facing this country. Now is the time to address those needs, and it has to be paid for in a progressive way, given the fact that we have massive income and wealth inequality in America.”
Last week, the so-called G10 group of five Democrats and five Republicans said it had reached a tentative infrastructure deal, but skepticism from Republicans and impatience from Democrats left its prospects uncertain as lawmakers departed for the weekend.
Democratic Sens. Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Jeff Merkley of Oregon have insisted that any deal must include action on climate change. They plan to hold a news conference Tuesday to call on lawmakers to include substantive climate action in the proposal, such as investments to reduce emissions.
