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’s 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’t be. Republicans will vote against a motion to proceed to the BIF if the text isn’t done by the time of the vote. 

But members of the bipartisan group are optimistic that if the BIF is within striking distance — Schumer and President Joe Biden will have to give the deal a few more days to gel.

And 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’ $3.5 trillion reconciliation behemoth.

Expect to hear one phrase in particular from Republicans over and over this summer: “reckless tax and spending spree.”

Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.