| President Biden on Thursday announced a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure compromise, endorsing a framework crafted in broad strokes by a group of 10 senators and White House officials. He hailed the Republican-trimmed outline as a boost for one of his top legislative priorities while insisting it will have to move “in tandem” through Congress with the rest of his largely progressive proposals in order to gain his signature (The Hill, NBC News and C-SPAN). “We have a deal,” Biden said in a surprise appearance outside the White House. "They have my word, I'll stick with what they've proposed. And they've given me their word as well. Where I come from that's good enough for me," he said. Speaking later in the East Room, the president admitted that he has no “guarantee” from senators about how they will vote once the outline is translated into legislative language. He said he was pleased that the compromise plan he endorsed represents about two-thirds of the total spending he initially proposed for both traditional infrastructure and what he calls “human infrastructure.” Biden conceded that the path toward enactment in the House and Senate remains rugged. Because there is no bipartisan consensus behind the third leg of his Build Back Better agenda, focused on left-leaning federal priorities and support programs, Democrats say they will use the budget process to try to move those initiatives past GOP opposition using reconciliation, which allows passage by a majority rather than the higher hurdle of a filibuster-proof 60 senators. The Hill: Biden says he won’t sign bipartisan bill without a Democratic-backed reconciliation measure. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Thursday slammed Biden for “caving” to his left flank, The Hill’s Alexander Bolton reports, while progressives such as Senate Budget Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) have threatened to revolt if a compromise or reconciliation package doesn't go far enough to address liberals’ key priorities. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) — reflecting the fears of progressives that climate change policies and other goals could fall by the wayside this year — decided to ramp up pressure on Thursday by saying the House would not take up a bipartisan infrastructure bill if the Senate does not also pass a budget reconciliation package that includes Democrats' other priorities (Axios). Biden said he supports Pelosi’s sequencing approach and will not sign just one measure without the other. “If only one comes to me, I’m not signing it,” he said. Asked if he is willing to put the compromise infrastructure bill in jeopardy by holding out for the Democrats-only budget reconciliation package, Biden answered, “sure,” explaining that in his view, all of the major investments and policy changes he has presented are “really important.” He suggested that majorities of Americans agree. The Hill: Progressives fire a warning shot at the Senate’s bipartisan infrastructure framework endorsed by the president. The Hill’s Cristina Marcos reports what’s at stake for Pelosi. She cannot lose support from more than four members of her caucus on Biden’s top legislative priority. The New York Times: The bipartisan agreement announced for infrastructure omits big climate measures. A second bill destined for a Democratic push through budget reconciliation could be Biden’s last chance to pass major global warming legislation. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), appearing outside the West Wing with Biden and his fellow Senate negotiators, called it "a good compromise,” adding that the proposal includes investments "without new taxes." Portman is retiring from the Senate next year. "I don't know how far it's going to get. I think it'll get all the way. We’ve got the president behind it and this group here. But we're going to keep working together,” Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said at the White House. The Hill: Senate Republicans raise early concerns over Biden’s infrastructure deal. The Hill’s Jordain Carney reports that Biden support for the infrastructure outline is seen as a significant win for the political center, and for the president. Details of the infrastructure framework: The plan Biden got behind comes to $1.2 trillion over eight years, with $579 billion in new spending for infrastructure. To offset that new spending, negotiators propose to cobble together a laundry list of various fees, unspent federal funds from the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief law, $100 billion in projected revenue using IRS enforcement — but no new corporate taxes (opposed by Republicans) and no gas tax hikes (opposed by Democrats and Biden) (Bloomberg News and NPR). A White House fact sheet is HERE. 
© Getty Images More in Congress: Pelosi on Thursday created a select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 attack at the Capitol. The Speaker’s official announcement, two days after she signaled to colleagues that she would form a panel, means Democrats will lead what probably will be the most comprehensive look at the siege. She did not say who will lead or serve on the committee and said there is no fixed timeline to report findings and recommendations to Congress (The Associated Press). … House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who opposes the creation of an independent commission to probe the attack at the Capitol, will meet today with Capitol Police Officer Michael Fanone, who was one of the officers injured by rioters on Jan. 6 and supports a commission. Fanone sought the meeting (The Associated Press). … California Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee this week took aim at Big Tech, exposing some intraparty divides. They voted against the majority of their colleagues to advance several bills that would constrain the market power of Facebook, Google, Apple and Amazon (The Hill and The New York Times). | 
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