Biden 'prepared to negotiate' size, taxes with lawmakers on $2.25 trillion infrastructure and jobs plan

Republicans say pieces of Biden's American Jobs Plan are 'non-starters' for bipartisan support.

President Joe Biden meets Republican and Democratic lawmakers as the White House amplifies the push for its $2.3 trillion package with the release of state-by-state breakdowns that show the dire shape of the nation's infrastructure.

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden opened talks with lawmakers Monday afternoon on his $2.25 trillion jobs and infrastructure plan, saying he's "prepared to negotiate" the size of the package and how to pay for it. .

"I think everyone acknowledges we need a significant increase in infrastructure," Biden said from the Oval Office before meeting with a bipartisan group of four senators and four House members. "It's going to get down to what we call infrastructure.".

President Biden and the bipartisan group of politicians discussed the American Jobs Plan, the administration's $2 trillion infrastructure proposal. (Photo: Pool, Getty Images).

Republicans have stayed united in opposition to Biden's jobs plan since its release nearly two weeks ago. That includes slamming how Biden wants to pay for it  – increasing the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28% – which would eliminate the 2017 tax cuts former President Donald Trump and Republicans worked to approve just four years ago

More: Biden is pitching a big infrastructure plan, but Republicans already panned it as going too far

Padilla said Biden made a "compelling case for why we need to think big and think broadly when it comes to the definition of infrastructure."

Changes are certain," Biden said in a White House speech last week

More: 'We can't delay': Biden proposes $2 trillion infrastructure, jobs plan funded by corporate tax hike

After a ruling last week by the Senate parliamentarian, Biden and Democrats could seek to pass the American Jobs Plan with a simple majority in the Senate via budget reconciliation, blocking any attempt at a filibuster waged by Republicans. It would mean no Republican votes would be needed as long as Democrats are all on board, mirroring how Biden won approval of his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 rescue plan last month

In negotiations on this bill, Biden's American Rescue Plan, 10 Republicans met with Biden in the White House after proposing a trimmed down $618 billion package