The evidence of progress is all over the place:
→ Twenty-one senators are on board with a broadly defined proposal. Not as much money as Biden originally proposed and a more focused approach on traditional infrastructure, i.e. roads and bridges with some broadband thrown in.
→ Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell seems modestly interested in it -- or, to put it more bluntly, he’s not dumping all over it. At least not yet. And Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), McConnell’s deputy, seemed bullish Wednesday after attending a meeting with the G20 group.
→ Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) will brief members of the Problem Solvers Caucus today. This is the kind of cross-chamber work that is helpful when building support for any big piece of legislation.
All of this motion and movement doesn’t mean they will get a deal, but it does present an interesting set of decisions for the White House to make. Do they take a bite of the cake or hold off for the whole enchilada, and can they get it?