Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif. 15th District) is urging his Republican colleagues to get onboard with President Joe Biden's sweeping $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan, saying that the bill addresses many issues that plagued the country even before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
"We know that as Americans get back to work, as the economy reopens, we'll be reminded of our crumbling infrastructure," Swalwell told Cheddar.
"Americans want to spend less time in their cars and more time with their families, so that means investing in rails, additional highways, roads, bridges, tunnels."
Swalwell also noted the potential for broadband expansion under the Biden proposal, particularly for students who have lacked access to adequate internet service during the establishment of distance learning.
The president's infrastructure plan calls for a hike in corporate taxes from 21 percent to 28 percent, a move that many Republicans have come out against though the proposal is still below the 35 percent rate that existed before the Trump administration. Swalwell said the GOP has to be "a part of this process" and hopes some are willing to cross the aisle for the benefit of the country at large.
"President Biden ran on a uniting-the-country agenda, and he is reaching across the aisle," Swalwell said. "And I hope he will find partners that will work with him."
"I'm confident, on our side, in the House, we will do what is needed to get done. I hope that on the Republican side in the Senate, that they can achieve 60 votes, meaning at least 10 Republicans cross the aisle for the infrastructure needs that are there."
In hopes of enticing Republican lawmakers to support Biden's plan, the California representative also pointed to the return of earmarks or "member-directed spending," which allow lawmakers to direct funds to specific projects or groups in their districts. Earmarks were temporarily banned by each party in 2011 after President Obama promised to veto any bill containing them during his State of the Union address.
Senate Republicans voted to permanently ban the practice in 2019 but have shown signs they may be willing to re-embrace them, according to The Hill.
Swalwell noted that not only are Democratic lawmakers supporting the American Jobs Plan, their constituents are also backing it.
"I just think good policy is good politics, and if we keep this country open, if the unemployment rate is low, and the economy grows, like Goldman Sachs predicted at 8 percent by the end of the year, I think Americans will want to return to responsible governance to Washington come 2022," he said.
U.S. stocks close Monday's session slight higher Monday as investors continue to monitor whether the economy will successfully avoid a recession. For many, fears over inflation and rising interest rates. Tommy Mancuso, president and co-founder of the Bad Investment Company, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Bill Nye the Science Guy is back but on an even smaller screen. America’s favorite science teacher has racked up more than eight million followers on TikTok, and he joined Cheddar News to talk about his success on the platform, having fun but also being serious about scientific topics like tackling climate change, and his newest hosting project "The End is Nye," a streaming show on Peacock that examines disasters — both natural and manmade. "There are six episodes. We have big disasters. Things go terribly wrong, and then we show you how things could have gone right," he explained.
Cheddar Politics takes a look at the Biden Administration's effort to center inflation concerns in the White House's economic policies. Reuters White House reporter Jeff Mason joins Cheddar News to discuss what the White House is doing and what more it can do to help fix economic issues.
In another round of sweeping sanctions against Russia for its war on Ukraine, European Union leaders have agreed to ban the vast majority of Russian oil by the end of the year. But, the embargo covers only Russian oil brought in by sea, allowing an exemption for fuel imported via pipeline. Christine McDaniel, a senior fellow with the Mercatus Center, discusses just how significant this deal is, and what impact it might have on the global energy sector.
Catching you up on what you need to know on Monday, June 6, 2022, a string of mass shootings across the country this weekend, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces a no-confidence vote this morning, and Tropical Storm Alex floods Miami.
U.S. stocks closed Friday's session near session to cap off the week in the red. The disappointing end to the day and week follows a lukewarm May jobs report from the Labor Department and comes as investors continue to eye future rate hikes from the Federal Reserve. Callie Cox, U.S. Investment Analyst for eToro, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
While the United States struggles with mass shootings, other countries have had success with gun regulations - often after their own mass shootings. On this Gun Awareness Day, Cheddar's Shannon LaNier reports on steps some other countries have taken to stop gun violence.
Join Cheddar News as we break down the Need 2 Know headlines this morning including Gun Violence Awareness Day, how to prevent mass shootings, and the president's comments on gun control.
