July 21, 2021: Reckless tax and spending spree The GOP battle plan takes shape
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer wanted today to be the GOP\u2019s moment to put up or shut up on the bipartisan infrastructure deal. But based on our conversations with sources involved Tuesday night, it probably won\u2019t be. Republicans will vote against a motion to proceed to the BIF if the text isn\u2019t done by the time of the vote.\xa0\nBut members of the bipartisan group are optimistic that if the BIF is within striking distance \u2014 Schumer and President Joe Biden will have to give the deal a few more days to gel.\nAnd over the weekend, aides to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate GOP Conference Chair John Barrasso and NRSC Chair Rick Scott huddled to devise a counterattack against Democrats\u2019 $3.5 trillion reconciliation behemoth.\nExpect to hear one phrase in particular from Republicans over and over this summer: \u201creckless tax and spending spree.\u201d\nRaghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook.Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.\xa0Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.