Following multiple hours-long bipartisan Senate meetings with senior White House aides on a traditional infrastructure package, lawmakers said Wednesday that they have reached a “framework” deal and are headed to the White House to meet with President Joe Biden on Thursday.
“We have a framework, and we’re going to the White House tomorrow,” Republican Senator Mitt Romney told reporters.
“We made significant progress,” White House counselor Steve Richetti told ABC News.
Three Senate negotiators — Republicans Susan Collins of Maine, Ohio’s Rob Portman and Montana Democrat Jon Tester — clarified to reporters that there were still some details to be worked out on how the $1.2 trillion package is to be paid for, though all agreed that a deal was at hand.
When asked if the group of 21 senators had a deal, Portman said, “I wouldn’t use exactly those words, but I would say that we’re very, very close, and we’re going to now do the outreach. It is important to grow the vote from the middle out.”
Portman was referencing the crucial sales job now underway with senators outside the group of 21.
The core, bipartisan group of 10 senators – five Democrat, five Republican – has been at this effort for a month.
Senior White House aides now must show the president the final numbers.
Source-ABC
