Groups in negotiations on infrastructure bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators and the White House were locked in intense negotiations Tuesday to salvage a bipartisan infrastructure deal, with pressure mounting on all sides to wrap up talks and show progress on President Joe Biden's top priority.

Despite weeks of closed-door discussions, senators from the bipartisan group blew past a Monday deadline set for agreement on the nearly $1 trillion package. They hit serious roadblocks over how much would be spent on public transit and water infrastructure and whether the new spending on roads, bridges, broadband and other projects would be required to meet federal wage requirements for workers. They're also at odds over drawing on COVID-19 funds to help pay for it.

Republican negotiator Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, who took the lead in key talks with a top White House aide, insisted the bipartisan group was "making progress." Biden struck a similarly upbeat tone, telling reporters at the White House he remained optimistic about reaching a compromise.

But as talks drag on, anxious Democrats, who have slim control of the House and Senate, face a timeline to act on what would be some of the most substantial legislation in years. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told senators Tuesday they should be prepared to work through the weekend to finish the bill.

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, one of Democrats' leaders in the infrastructure bargaining, was meeting late Tuesday morning with Biden at the White House to discuss those talks, said two people who acknowledged the session only on condition of anonymity.

The White House wants a bipartisan agreement for this first phase, before Democrats go it alone to tackle broader priorities in a bigger $3.5 trillion budget plan that's on deck. A recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC found 8 in 10 Americans favor some increased infrastructure spending, and the current package could be a political win for all sides as lawmakers try to show voters that Washington can work. Securing the bipartisan bill is also important for some centrist Democrats before engaging in the broader undertaking.

The House will also have a chance to weigh in on the legislation if it clears the Senate.

At a private meeting of House Democrats on Tuesday, the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee called the infrastructure measure that senators of both parties are struggling to complete "crap," according to two Democrats who attended the session. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., said the Senate effort was being led by "three Republicans" — Portman, Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Sinema, D-Ariz., a centrist distrusted by some Democrats.

DeFazio's remarks illustrated the tensions between Democrats in the two chambers over the budget talks. The Democrats spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the closed-door session.

Submitted Photo Forrest City Councilman Jason Evansingston coordinated an effort between Zenenvirotech, Inc., and the St. Francis County Food Pantry to secure nutrient dense fruits and vegetables for senior citizens as a part of its fresh pantry project. Recently, Andrea White, co-owner of Sunlight Farm, and her daughter delivered fresh produce to the Pantry. Fresh pantry is an initiative that works with local farmers and community food programs to reduce food insecurity and hunger in a healthy way. Sunlight Farm grew and harvested the zucchini, corn, cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes that were in the bags. They also raise chickens and provided a half dozen eggs for each bag.