White House's New, $1.7T Infrastructure Offer Panned by GOP

WASHINGTON - The White House put forward a $1.7 trillion infrastructure counteroffer Friday to Senate Republicans, dropping from President Joe Biden's sweeping $2.3 trillion proposal "in the spirit of finding common ground."

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki disclosed the new offer as talks were still underway between key Cabinet secretaries and GOP senators at a crucial stage toward a deal. Skepticism had been rising on all sides amid complaints about the lack of significant movement off the opening bids. Republicans had offered a $568 billion plan. "This proposal exhibits a willingness to come down in size," she said at the press briefing. According to a memo obtained by The Associated Press, the administration is cutting more than $550 billion from the president's initial offer.