sunday at 10:00 p.m. eastern. best-selling author michael lewis writes about the early warning signs of the covid-19 pandemic and the trump administration's response. watch book tv this weekend on c-span2. ♪ biden and republican senators continue negotiation on

infrastructure. the reporting of eugene mulero, who joins us here in washington. we know the talks will continue post memorial day, but how far beyond that will they continue, and we are both sides? guest: it is very likely these negotiations between the white house and senate republicans will continue about a week or two more weeks, very top level negotiations. press secretary jen psaki indicated that over the weekend and next weekend after memorial day, that the biden senior transportation team and the jobs cabinet team will continue to meet with senator cap to must virginia -- capito of west virginia, other gop leaders to reconcile the differences in their plan. the white house has a $1 trillion proposal that is very climate change-centric and

policy. the senate gop is proposing something that is very surface, transportation-centric. it is likely, over the course of a week or two weeks, if those talks don't produce a bipartisan compromise, pressure from the democratic leadership on capitol hill will lean toward the president to go for an infrastructure package that does not include a lot of the input that the senate republicans are proposing. host: do both sides truly want a bipartisan deal? guest: they say they do. president biden continues to say he wants to work with republicans and have a consensus across-the-board on capitol hill, in unity, the issues of infrastructure policy. republicans not only said it but

put it in a memo to the white house, that they want to work with the white house, and that they oppose a path toward enactment of an infrastructure legislation that would be partisan in nature. senate republicans are proposing a scenario in which the white house works with only the democrats to advance a big picture infrastructure bill through a budget process that would not necessitate senate republican input. to be fair, both sides, the white house, senate democrats and republicans, both parties are in agreement on the fact that we need to modernize and improve the country's infrastructure. the big contention is how do we pay for it. that is where they do not see ey e to eye right now. host: one of the photographs

accompany your story is the scene outside of the capital, one of the many construction projects, the scene outside of our window as well. i want to go back to the issue of how to pay for this. could that be a dealbreaker for republicans? the president says he wants to raise taxes, go back to the tax rates that were in place before the trump tax cuts for corporations. guest: exactly. sources i talk to, people on capitol hill, they tell me the republicans' position of not raising corporate taxes, they are not moving from that decision. that is exactly why president biden is calling for raising the corporate tax rate, in order to come up with the money, over 10 to 15 years, to pay for his infrastructure plan. senate republicans, in their negotiations, presented a plan

that would use for infrastructure, would rely on unused covid-19 relief money. the white house says that is not a plan they will go for. it is worth noting, many stakeholders in the trade petition community, what they have been proposing for years is for congress to propose and approve raising the federal fuel tax, but that is something the white house, democrats and republicans on capitol hill are unwilling to tackle at this point. host: that was one of the issues brought up yesterday by one of the key republicans in these negotiations. she has met with the president on a couple of locations, west virginia senator capito. >> we are looking at a not have $28 billion package, sticks to the core issues we talked about initially. it's a serious effort to reach a bipartisan agreement.

the president said to me and us in february that he was really agnostic as to whether we passed a bunch of small bills, or one large bill, and we have heard him say inaction is not an option for him. we have passed two of the smaller, and surface transportation has not gone out of the senate yet, but it is a major anchor to this piece of legislation. i think that shows there is a real hunger for bipartisanship in the u.s. senate, a real ability to achieve that, and we are hoping that this moves the ball forward. we believe the alternative, which is a partisan reconciliation process, would lead destructive to our future bipartisan attempts but also does not serve the american public, and would not get us to an infrastructure package such as the one we believe would serve the american interest but also constrains spending to the areas of core, physical

infrastructure that is so important to this country. host: that is from republican shelley moore capito. i want to share a couple of tweets. i didn't vote for bipartisanship, i voted for d's and we won. get over it. another one says, democrats cannot steamroll anyone. dems have a razor thin majority in both houses and state legislators. give us an update, where do things stand right now? guest: right now, the staffers for republicans and white house staff for biden are working on trying to come to a consensus on the funding level, as well as how to pay for an infrastructure package. to come to an agreement on this whole debate that is beside the funding debate, the debate over what is infrastructure?

there's a lot of pushback from republicans on the hill, they are just questioning the white house's infrastructure plan when they propose funding for what republicans dean human infrastructure -- deem human infrastructure. it is worth noting in this plan, the things that republicans are referring to, refers to funding for elderly care facilities, hospitals, v.a. hospitals, childcare programs, money for new technologies, electric vehicle technologies. proposals from the white house that are outside of the traditional physical infrastructure parameters that the country has been accustomed to. back to your point that negotiations are ongoing, but like i said, i am hearing it will be one or two more weeks of these high-level negotiations.

but there is a sense of urgency on capitol hill. speaker pelosi says she wants to have either a scaled down or a big infrastructure package passed out of the chamber by july 4. we have heard similar sentiments from senator schumer in the senate, that he wants to move ahead with an infrastructure package. many prominent members of the democratic caucus in the house and senate are kind of getting tired of the negotiations. they feel like the republicans are dragging their feet, questioning how we are going to pay for it, etc.. there is a big impetus to get something done. like i said, what i am hearing, there is a sense of urgency to get something done by july 4, definitely before the august recess. host: we are talking to eugene

mulero, transport reporter for transport topics. he covers capitol hill. initially, republicans came up with a plan that was $600 billion, the president was at $2.2 trillion. now the republicans are at $928 billion. the white house, at one point, $1.7 trillion. can they come closer or will republicans hold firm to their plan? guest: what i am hearing is that a final number could probably be a $1.3 trillion package, $1.5 trillion package, and that is if there is some wiggle room on the part of the white house on the corporate tax rate proposal. perhaps they don't go all the way to 28%, 25%, or something like that. that is something the white house says they are willing to negotiate. also, if the white house is able

to compromise or maybe scaled down what the republicans call this human infrastructure component of their package, that will facilitate movement on the negotiations. again, for emphasis, republicans do want to get an in fish -- infrastructure package done. this is why they move the ball on their side to a $1 trillion deal. if they can reach agreement on how to pay for it, if they address the fuel tax within the highway trust fund that pays for our surface transportation programs nationwide, some sort of agreement on climate change policies and electric vehicle policies, it is very likely that there will be a big ticket infrastructure package out of capitol hill. but that is a lot of maybes. host: our guest is eugene

mulero, previously worked for the huffington post, cq wire. joining us on the phone is our guest from arizona. good morning, you are next. caller: ok, sorry. host: i will ask you to turn the volume down, otherwise we will hear an echo. caller: good morning. i'm calling from arizona. i love to choose as a u.s. citizen. personally, i am not a u.s. citizen. host: do you have a question? we are going to have to move on to ron in munro township, new jersey. if you get through, please turn the volume down so we can hear you. caller: why isn't anyone talking

about fusion? fusion would allow us to recycle all of our raw elements. it would allow us to the cell and eyes all of the water we need and make all the electricity we need. there is a working reactor in new york, japan, and they are try to get one going, i believe, in france and sweden. host: we will get a response. guest: the white house and the biden administration are looking at many proposals, policy provisions that would enhance alternative sources of energy. this will be to address concerns with the electrical grid, especially like in texas, southern parts of the country. there is also a directive to

invest in new, autonomous technologies, solar energy, like i mentioned, electric vehicles. i know the biden administration has a very broad portfolio. we can expect to see more of their directives in the fiscal 2022 budget request out today, as well as as talks continue on the infrastructure package. host: linda in dallas. good morning, you are next. caller: good morning. my question for your guest -- i am in my 70's. i am for the senate working together to pass this bill for the next generation. i just want them to come to some kind of agreement because, as a senior citizen, i am worried

about them, the infrastructure, everything. i want to see them come into the 21st century. i don't want them to be a laughingstock to china nor russia. come to an agreement to help this young generation of americans. thank you. host: thank you. we will get a response. guest: she makes a good point, and an area of compromise already evident on capitol hill is this highway policy legislation, separate from the infrastructure package we are talking about. this highway policy bill received unanimous support out of a senate committee this week. on june 9, the house transportation committee will take up their version of this highway policy bill. the sponsors of the legislation do get to the point of

transforming, modernizing the country's mobility grid. as the caller mentioned, there are concerns about the state of our roadways, highways. 37 million people traveling this memorial day weekend will experience first-hand our countries infrastructure. so there is already bipartisan support for upgrading, modernizing our passenger corridors to not only facilitate the movement of people, but greight. host: those traveling noticing higher gas prices, here in the d.c. area, just over three dollars a gallon. in many parts of the country, much higher, especially in new york or california, where it is five dollars a gallon depending on where you live. cnbc reporting that these prices

could stay for the summer as millions of americans are hitting the roads. why would gas prices stay this high? guest: fuel analysts indicate they are expecting a high demand in the summer travel season, so with a lot of people hitting the roads, the demand will stay there. the national average is expected to stay around three dollars per gallon. people that i talk to, fuel analysts are saying, you and i and the rest of the country, if they have been vaccinated, if they have safety precautions, they go to places where the mask mandate's have been relaxed, that they want to get out there. when they travel, they will need to fill their cars up with gasoline. back to the question, it's

expected to stay at three dollars a gallon due to the demand rejected for the summer. host: for the radio audience, we are talking to eugene mulero, a transportation reporter. the headline for bloomberg news pointing out the negotiations between the president, senate democrats, and republicans will continue into next week. the gop, next week, the clock ticks on infrastructure. this is from chad, congressional correspondent and producer for fox news. a couple notes about president biden releasing his notes today. budget proposals are aspirational press releases on steroids. never does congress enact a president's budget, nor are they binding. next is mack from damascus, maryland. caller: no one is talking about

how the government is actively shutting down pi slimes -- pipelines. they are light, gas prices are going up. i wonder why? everyone is being tricked into committing suicide. like now, everyone should be -- for everything it's worth. get the infrastructure bill in because in three years, we will not have the ability to loan ourselves money anymore because inflation will be through the roof. get your gas, electric cars. i suggest everyone starting a business that makes real money. get some chicken eggs. host: thanks for listening on c-span radio. just avoiding some profanity. eugene mulero. guest: my reporting suggests there is -- supply chain is operational.

no reporting to suggest that there is an inability for people to access energy products, gasoline, etc. our freight and transportation corridors have been inspected and are safe. that is another point i want to make. there is so much talk back and forth between capitol hill and the white house about repairing infrastructure, people should know that when they travel, go to the airports, drive over a bridge, that infrastructure has been inspected and is safe. the whole argument that is anchoring these negotiations is how does the federal government help modernize and rebuild infrastructure that is capable to withstand the impact of severe weather events? i'm not just talking about hurricanes, also floods, wildfires.

there is bipartisan agreement on a need to reinforce infrastructure, and the supply chain, in order to deal with cyber security, as well as infrastructure. host: laurie is next on the republican line. good morning. caller: i am visiting a friend here, i live in katy, texas. i just want to bring to the attention of the usa, we had a terrible problem -- infrastructure. in session right now, they will shortly be leaving. they had been warned 11 years ago that those lines need to be taken care of, maintained, in the event of bad weather. host: i am going to stop you

there because you are breaking in and out. i think we got the essence of your question, referring to the electric lines and electric grid. did you want to respond to that? guest: again, the transportation committees, the white house, has been very focused on investing money to expand the capabilities of the country's electrical grid as well as the energy supply chains. within the biden infrastructure proposal, $1.7 trillion, several billion dollars would be dedicated just to address the modernization of electrical grids. not every part of the country operates their electrical grid the same, but nevertheless, the white house has indicated they are willing to partner with every state agency in order to invest in these improvement projects. host: back to your calls.

jesse in muskegon, michigan. good morning. caller: good morning, steve. i have not called c-span in almost three years. host: why? don't be a stranger. caller: so many people get on c-span and are ridiculous. talking about this infrastructure bill that the president is trying to pass. the republicans do not pass anything. all they want to do is give tax breaks for billionaires. if you go to europe, they have some of the most beautiful highways, no potholes. here we are, the richest country in the world, and we have potholes.

walking down this bridge that goes over mississippi over to tennessee, a big crack was in there, trucks were having to make a detour. this is ridiculous. the democrats need to wake up because the republicans have no interest in doing nothing but giving money to billionaires. it makes you angry how they play this game. they have no interest in doing nothing for the country. we have the greatest country in the world. growing up in a country like this, all we have is politics, people that are concerned about the wealthy. the democrats need to get over this thing of bipartisan stuff.

these people do not want to pass anything. host: i am going to jump in, but thank you for phoning in. promise you will not wait another three years to phone in. caller: i've been watching c-span. thank you, steve, for letting me voice my opinion. host: thank you for the call. to his point, let me share a tweet from a viewer, the last time major infrastructure was a topic was in the 1950's with the interstate highway system. it says a lot about our nation when the railways, roads, and bridges need major overhauls. this is up or tear infrastructure, and then we have the electric grid, internet, etc. under the republican plan, here is the price tag with some of the proposals. $506 billion for roads and bridges and. major infostructure projects $98 billion for project. $56 billion for airports. 46 billion dollars for passenger

and freight rail systems. and about $22 billion for ports and waterways. the transportation secretary is the former mayor of south bend, indiana, pete buttigieg. what role is he playing in these negotiations? guest: secretary buttigieg has been very out there in the media promoting this infrastructure package. he has done basically every interview in american media under the sun to admire -- remind people of the administration's objective of modernizing the transportation network, improving the freight supply chains. as a member of what president biden called his jobs cabinet, buttigieg is out there meeting with members of congress, in order to get something get something done on infrastructure.

he has been very much one of the key public figures of this debate and it is worth noting on capitol hill, to the point of a previous caller, that the negotiations are expected to take one or two more weeks. but, the democratic leadership, like i mentioned, does want to get something done on infrastructure that is transformative. that will take us away from the eisenhower era mobility networks and takes us to a new future, modern transportation system. there is an expectation that we will see passage of legislation out of the house by july 4. the senate is expected to start legislating on freight policy, transit policies. this is expected to happen for the august recess. we can have a highway bill that is separate from that and an

infrastructure package, if not before the august recess, definitely in the early part of the fall. host: david is in washington, d.c., making the point, many people are forgetting this isn't just an infrastructure bill, it is an american jobs plan. yes, it has an infrastructure focus but that does not mean we should not pass the other stuff in it that will help the economy -- fuel the economy. nasal will get the last call. republican line, good morning. -- basil will get the last call, republican line, good morning. caller: donald trump was successful because he understood construction. he understood how to solve the problems. we have politicians who never did a lick of work. if you put a group of politicians and white collar people in an area to build and a group of tradespeople to build, which one do you think will build the city? we need people who understand construction and how to do it at how to get it done. not talk about it and pass

infrastructure bills. how in the heck are you going to get it done? donald trump was a builder. we have no builders in office today. we have only people who come up with ideas and concepts but not how to do it. we have to wake up. it is tradespeople who built this country. host: i will leave it there. 30 seconds left. to his point and a quick follow-up on what you are looking to next. guest: the road builders and the construction stakeholders have applauded negotiations and ongoing talks on capitol hill and have expressed optimism with the passage of a highway bill out of a senate committee. what i am looking for is after memorial day, how the talks at the white house with senate republicans, how they are able to produce, reconciling their differences.

i will be watching the mark of a highway bill at the transportations committee. the passage of that legislator -- legislature will set the tone for what democrats do going forward, not only on highway legislation but this big infrastructure package. host: eugene mulero is a senior congressional reporter for transport topics. we will follow your reporting in the days fb.com/c-span. thank you for being with us. a lot to get to. we want to begin with the tragedy in san jose, california. this courtesy of the san jose mercury news. those nine vick tifments mass shooting that took place just past 6:30 local time on wednesday. some of the reporting from the mercury news, most of the men gunned down at the v.t.a. rail yard worked the most dangerous jobs in the business. handling high voteage wires in

their bucket trucks sometimes in the rain and freezing cold as speeding trains raced by. it was that work and conditions that built a strong bond among the crew as they gather to receive their daily assignments just after sunrise in the maintenance building on bens morning. they more thick blue uniforms to protect themselves from the arc flash, a high folettage shot that would melt their skin. but nothing could protect them from the danger on