Politico: “President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda appears back on track in Congress, with Republicans praising his newly clarified approach to their bipartisan infrastructure plan and a key Democrat endorsing work on a separate, larger spending package. Two GOP negotiators on the bipartisan infrastructure deal said Sunday that they were mollified by Biden’s Saturday statement vowing to support the bipartisan framework on its own merits, rather than withholding his signature until he also received a larger, partisan proposal. Many Republicans interpreted his remarks in the aftermath of their deal on Thursday as an implicit veto threat. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said on CNN’s ‘State of the Union’ that ‘the waters have been calmed’ by Biden’s statement Saturday that clarified he supports the bipartisan plan ‘without reservation.'”

“Romney predicted the proposal, which has not been drafted but aims to provide nearly $600 billion in new spending on roads, bridges and broadband, would have sufficient support to pass the Senate. It will need at least 60 votes, including at least 10 Republicans. Some of those needed GOP votes wavered on Friday after Biden said if the bipartisan bill ‘is the only one that comes to me, I’m not signing it.’ ‘I am glad they have now been de-linked and we can move forward with a bipartisan bill,’ said Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), the lead GOP negotiator, on ABC’s ‘This Week.’ He said Republicans ‘were glad to see them disconnected. And now we can move forward.’ Portman and Romney’s comments signal that over the two-week July Fourth recess, negotiators can start drafting legislation that provides the largest investments in physical infrastructure in U.S. history. While there are more opportunities for that effort to be derailed, Biden’s work to reassure Republicans to stay on board and his acknowledgment Saturday that they were ‘understandably upset’ with him seems to be paying off.”