A bipartisan group in the Senate has come up with a new infrastructure bill. 

Why am I not surprised that whenever you add Republicans to a group, their first move is to put the kibosh on any tax increases for the rich?

Basically, the Republicans in the group with the acquiescence of the corporate “Democrats” in the group, are determined to make their bill as meaningless as possible:

A bipartisan Senate group is taking tax increases off the table as lawmakers try to craft an infrastructure proposal after GOP talks with the White House collapsed Tuesday.

Raising taxes on high-income earners and corporations has been a key part of President Biden‘s infrastructure plan, making it nearly impossible to garner enough GOP support for legislation that can clear the Senate.

Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), who is in the bipartisan group, said tax increases are not under consideration as senators attempt to reach consensus on how to pay for their plan.

………

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), another member of the bipartisan group, also told reporters on Wednesday that Republicans won’t agree to tax increases as part of infrastructure talks.

The group is expected to be looking at a proposal of around $900 billion, but they’ve been careful not to publicly release a number, saying the level of spending isn’t yet locked in. Biden’s initial infrastructure proposal exceeded $2.2 trillion.

This is why you don’t waste your time trying to cut a deal with Republicans. 

They are never going to agree to raising taxes on the rich, one of the most popular policies in the United States right now, and they don’t want the country to succeed, because it would hurt their electoral chances.

Negotiating in good faith is in opposition to core Republican values.