$1 Trillion Infrastructure Deal Scales Senate Hurdle with Bipartisan Vote

Senator Mitt Romney of Utah and other Republicans who negotiated the deal urged their colleagues to support a measure they said would provide badly needed funding for infrastructure projects. | T.J. Kirkpatrick for The New York Times
THE NEW YORK TIMES: The vote was a breakthrough after weeks of wrangling among White House officials and senators in both parties, clearing the way for action on a top priority for President Biden.

WASHINGTON — The Senate voted on Wednesday to take up a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill that would make far-reaching investments in the nation’s public works system, as Republicans joined Democrats in clearing the way for action on a crucial piece of President Biden’s agenda.

The 67-to-32 vote, which included 17 Republicans in favor, came just hours after centrist senators in both parties and the White House reached a long-sought compromise on the bill, which would provide about $550 billion in new federal money for roads, bridges, rail, transit, water and other physical infrastructure programs.

Among those in support of moving forward was Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader and a longtime foil of major legislation pushed by Democratic presidents. Mr. McConnell’s backing signaled that his party was — at least for now — open to teaming with Democrats to enact the plan. » | Emily Cochrane and Jim Tankersley | Wednesday, July 28, 2021

A Look at What the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal Would Do »

US Election 2012: Mitt Romney Presents His Economic Plan in Detroit
Ahead of the Michigan primary on Tuesday, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney presents his economic plan to business leaders at a rally at in Detroit, the epicenter of the US auto industry.

here | Saturday, February 25, 2012

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: The Republican Candidates on Taxes

FOX NEWS: Romney defends record at South Carolina debate, as GOP rivals fight for edge in state primary » | Fox News.com | Tuesday, January 17, 2012

REUTERS.COM: Romney unscathed from debate attacks: (Reuters) - Republican presidential hopefuls attacked Mitt Romney's record in business and government on Monday and challenged him to release his tax returns, but the front-runner emerged largely unscathed from a South Carolina debate. » | John Whitesides and Deborah Charles | MYRTLE BEACH, South Carolina | Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Romney Presents Plan to Cut $500 Billion from Federal Budget

LOS ANGELES TIMES: The Republican presidential candidate tells a gathering in Washington that he would trim Social Security, cap the cost of Medicaid and restructure Medicare.

Reporting from Washington— Before a noticeably cool but polite audience of conservative activists, Mitt Romneyredoubled his efforts Friday to align his agenda with that of the tea party — laying out a plan to slash $500 billion from the federal budget, in part through major changes to the nation's entitlement programs.

Romney's proposals to reduce federal spending to 20% of the nation's gross domestic product by 2016 were far-reaching but often lacked specifics.

The former Massachusetts governor said he would lower the cost of Social Security by raising the eligibility age for benefits, but he did not specify how quickly those changes would be phased in. He estimated that he could achieve tens of billions of dollars in savings by capping the cost of Medicaid, the federal program that provides medical care to the poor, and allowing the states to take it over — a move his campaign said would "empower them to innovate."

In one of the most controversial elements of his plan, Romney proposed a major restructuring of Medicare, which currently provides health insurance to about 47 million elderly and disabled people. Under the changes, Medicare would become just one of many plans that seniors could purchase with a new "premium support" system that would give them a set amount of money each year to purchase a plan. » | Maeve Reston and Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times | Saturday, November 05, 2011

Mitt Romney: 'European Socialist Policies Not Right for US'
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney says Barack Obama has been taking his political inspiration from 'socialist democrats in Europe', and it isn't working.