Biden to host Sinema for meeting on infrastructure proposal

President Biden will meet Tuesday with Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) at the White House, their first one-on-one, face-to-face meeting since Biden took office as he courts support among moderate lawmakers for his infrastructure proposal.

The two will discuss Biden’s American Jobs Plan and ongoing negotiations on the package in Congress, the White House said.

Biden’s meeting with Sinema comes one day after he met with fellow moderate Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin (W.Va.), as well as Sen. Tom Carper (Del.), the top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee. 

Sinema, alongside Manchin, is a critical vote for Senate Democrats to secure if they are to move forward with Biden’s $2.3 trillion American Jobs Plan, which calls for investments in roads, bridges, ports and broadband, as well as climate-friendly industries and long-term care workers.

The Arizona senator has pushed back on certain progressive priorities, such as altering or ending the legislative filibuster in the Senate or passing a $15 minimum wage.

The meeting with Sinema is one of several Biden will have this week as the White House seeks a path forward on the infrastructure bill. Biden will host Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Wednesday for talks on his agenda.

The president will then meet Thursday with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and a cadre of other Republican senators to specifically discuss infrastructure. Republicans have balked at Biden’s proposal to pay for the package with corporate tax increases, while offering a smaller bill that could be paid for with user fees.

Despite the gaps in negotiations, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday the president would still like to see progress on an infrastructure bill by Memorial Day.