President Biden
Joe BidenNoem announces response to South Dakota coronavirus, blocks CPAC speech On The Trail: Cuomo and Newsom: A story of two conflicting governors, Biden celebrates vaccine approval, but warns that “current improvement could reverse “MORE he has returned to bipartisan meetings in the White House that dwindled under his predecessor, trying to find common ground with Republicans, even if they stay away on issues related to the next round of coronavirus relief.
Biden’s first meeting with lawmakers in the Oval Office was with Republican senators on the coronavirus proposal and he has since met with members of the bipartisan Congress on infrastructure issues and, later, the chain of supply. The spread of Biden to Republicans has also spread beyond Capitol Hill to local governors and leaders as his administration faces the coronavirus and recent winter storms in the southern states.
The meetings are another example of a return to a more traditional government under Biden and is expected to become a common occurrence.
White House spokesman Michael Gwin said the president “is delighted to welcome lawmakers from both sides to the White House to work to find a common ground on the challenges we face and will continue to do so throughout its mandate “.
“The Biden brand brings people together, so it’s always helpful to remind voters that it’s trying to unite,” Democratic strategist Joel Payne said. “For now, it helps keep him above the fight.”
As Biden makes an effort to get to the hallway, the real test will be whether that commitment pays off. Discussions with Republicans over the relief of COVID-19 have not brought the two sides closer to a compromise. Democrats have pushed ahead to approve Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion proposal through budget reconciliation, creating tensions with Republicans.
“There are clearly issues where there is bipartisan consensus, but it requires presidential leadership and political capital to prevent the far left or far right from stopping it,” said Alex Conant, a Republican strategist and former House spokesman. White by George W. Bush.
Biden’s effort to work across the aisle reflects the promise of his campaign to be unifying and a “president for all Americans.”
“He’s said he wants Republicans on the table from the first moment,” a longtime Biden councilor said. “You can’t campaign for a year and a half and then not do it.”
The adviser said Biden’s goal has always been to reduce rhetoric and “break the fever.”
“Making them the opposition and not the enemy, that’s part of the deal,” the adviser said. “Part of the goal is to normalize talking to them. This is also a message he sends not only to Republicans but also Democrats.
“He is not excited that we will get 67 votes, but that is how policy formulation works,” the adviser continued, adding that Biden is a “creature of the Senate.”
Biden has planned plans to approve a recovery and infrastructure package, and Democrats have also submitted an immigration proposal to Capitol Hill, presenting their next tests for working with Republicans. Biden would need Republicans to join Democrats to pass an immigration review.
In addition to Biden’s contacts, the White House says officials remain in constant contact with Republican offices on Capitol Hill and in the states.
Former President Obama also tried to contact Republicans in the early months of his presidency; he met with the bipartisan leadership of the House and Senate on the first day he had in Washington in January 2009, before it was inaugurated, to discuss economic recovery.
“President Obama wanted to do everything he could to reach out to Republicans in Congress,” said Phil Schiliro, who was Obama’s director of legislative affairs. “If there was no receptivity, I didn’t want the lack of interest to stop us from moving forward.”
Obama’s broadcast initially included several small bipartisan social events, including a meeting for the Super Bowl and a couple of cocktails at the White House. But those ended soon after they started because Obama found them to be a big failure in helping his legislative agenda.
“I hated them,” said a former senior administration official.
He continued to hold one-off meetings with bipartisan groups “only when problems required it [and] not for the sake of bipartisan courtesy, ”said another former official, who pointed to meetings on government funding and Iran’s nuclear deal.
Biden has drawn contrasts with the above President Trump
Donald TrumpNoem defends response to South Dakota coronavirus, blocks CPAC speech On The Trail: Cuomo and Newsom: a story of two fit governors McCarthy: “I’d bet on my house” GOP recovers lower house in 2022 MORE, who campaigned with an outsider and not with an ability or willingness to work through the aisle. While there were some moments of bipartisanship during the Trump era, such as the passage of the First Step Act, they were fleeting and drowned out by the constant friction between the then president and Democrats.
“From the moment Trump won, Democrats pledged to defeat him four years later. The Democratic base had no interest in working with Trump, “Conant said.” Trump never ran as president of every American. If you didn’t support Trump, he saw you as the opposition from day one. ”.
Trump held some meetings with bipartisan leaders in the White House, but withdrew in late 2019 when House Democrats began removal processes. Trump’s last meeting with the leadership of the bipartisan Congress took place in October 2019 in relation to Syria. The meeting ended with the presence of Democrats and both sides hurling insults, and Trump never spoke to the Speaker of the House. Nancy Pelosi
Nancy PelosiMcCarthy: “I’d Bet on My House” GOP recovers lower house in 2022 After voting against coronavirus relief package, Golden calls for more bipartisanship in Congress Democrats don’t trust GOP in 1/6 committee: “This people are dangerous “MORE (D-California) after that meeting.
Still, the five emergency funding bills passed by the Democratic-controlled House and the Republican-controlled Senate last year were bipartisan, though Trump played little role in the negotiations and even momentarily threatened the fate of the final legislation passed in December. Instead, he was Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin
Steven Mnuchin On The Money: Schumer urges Democrats to stay together on the bill.9T | Collins rules out GOP support for Biden relief plan | Powell fights inflation fears Mnuchin expects to launch investment funds seeking support in the Persian Gulf region: Larry Kudlow report debuts high ratings on Fox business network who led discussions with Pelosi about coronavirus relief.
Conant described the lack of bipartisan support for the Biden coronavirus relief package as a “disastrous start,” and said the White House is likely to want and need Republican support to pass a major immigration and infrastructure policy. .
“I think Biden is well positioned to do that if he’s willing to break with the far left sometimes,” Conant said. “You can’t expect bipartisanship if you’re not willing to give something to the other side.”
Currently, Democrats only hold narrow majorities in Congress, and Vice President Harris casts a 50-50 Senate tiebreaker vote when necessary. The fight for the nomination of Neiden Tanden for the Biden Office of Management and Budget, which Sen. Joe Manchin
Joseph (Joe) ManchinProgressives smokes by Senate setbacks Politics, not racism or sexism, explain opposition to Biden House cabinet candidates Democrats in House approve 9Q COVID-19 bill with rise of the minimum wage (DW.Va.) opposes, he also stresses the work the president has to do to keep his own party together, while trying to work through the aisle.
Biden’s first meeting with GOP senators on Feb. 1 was cordial, according to participants, but Biden has remained committed to his $ 1.9 trillion aid proposal, which Republicans consider too face.
Biden’s outburst continued as he met with a bipartisan group of senators on Feb. 11 on infrastructure and, this week, with 11 lawmakers, including six Republicans, on how to address supply chain vulnerabilities. Sen. John Cornyn
John Cornyn Politics, not racism or sexism, explain the opposition to Biden’s cabinet candidates. Biden promises to support Texas in the midst of recovering from the winter storm. Winds against the partisans threaten the riot commission of the Capitol MORE (R-Texas.), Who met with Biden on Friday on a storm-affected trip to Texas, described the meeting as “very positive.”
“The political process has its ups and downs and I hope this is an opportunity to do something truly important in a bipartisan way,” Cornyn said. “So far, the $ 1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill is being passed strictly on the party line. I think it’s unfortunate. ”