Former President Donald Trump on Monday warned Republicans about being played as “losers” by Democrats during the bipartisan infrastructure negotiations, as senators rush to reach a deal this week.
“Senate Republicans are being absolutely savaged by Democrats on the so-called ‘bipartisan’ infrastructure bill. Mitch McConnell and his small group of RINOs wants nothing more than to get a deal done at any cost to prove that he can work with the Radical Left Democrats,” Trump said in an emailed statement.
“It is so important to him that he is agreeing to almost anything. Don’t do the infrastructure deal, wait until after we get proper election results in 2022 or otherwise, and regain a strong negotiating stance. Republicans, don’t let the Radical Left play you for weak fools and losers!,” he continued.
Talks to seal a deal continued over the weekend after Senate Republicans defeated a procedural vote brought by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) that would have allowed debate on the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill.
But the senators are racing the clock and trying to get a bill on the floor before Congress leaves town for the August recess.
Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), one of the leading Republican negotiators, told ABC News’ “This Week” on Sunday, “We’re about 90 percent of the way there” and expressed hope that it could get done by this week.
The talks hit a roadblock over how much to spend on public transit.
Other sticking points included spending on highways, water projects and whether to use unspent coronavirus relief funds to help pay for the infrastructure package.
Democrats and the White House sent a “global” offer to Republicans late Sunday on the unresolved issues, the Associated Press reported Monday.
Schumer has said he wants to pass the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, which includes $579 billion for roads and bridges, with bipartisan support and a companion $3.5 trillion spending plan this week before the recess.
He intends to pass the spending plan through reconciliation, a Senate procedure that will allow Democrats to approve it by a simple majority vote, thereby bypassing Republicans.