Washington (AFP)

Joe Biden hammered on Monday that he was willing to negotiate the scope and funding of his infrastructure investment plan, which faces strong criticism from Republicans and reluctance among some Democrats.

Anxious to show his desire to reach a consensus, the American president had invited Republican and Democratic parliamentarians to the White House to discuss this plan, which amounts to some 2,000 billion dollars over eight years.

"I am ready to negotiate on the scale of my infrastructure project, as well as on how to finance it," he said in the Oval Office, before starting the meeting.

"We bring together" elected Republicans and Democrats here, he said.

Joe Biden has so far obtained no support from Republicans for this project which could, according to him, create "millions of jobs" while fighting against climate change, and allow the United States to remain the first world power, ahead of China.

"I think everyone agrees that we need a major improvement in infrastructure," continued the tenant of the White House.

"It's not just roads and bridges," he added, responding to criticism from Republicans who see the Biden plan as an accumulation of projects with little connection to infrastructure.

In addition to investments in roads, bridges, railways, airports in poor condition but also in the high-speed internet network, it notably provides for significant investments to develop the fleet of electric vehicles, schools, as well as to help the home help sector or research and development.

Citing the example of President Franklin Roosevelt and his famous "New Deal" program - launched in the 1930s to recover an America plunged into crisis after the stock market crash of 1929 - Joe Biden says he wants to transform the country on the way out of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He intends to finance his plan by increasing corporate tax from 21% to 28%.

Another point of tension with the Republicans.

"Less than 6% of this proposal goes to roads and bridges," Republican senator leader Mitch McConnell once again denounced Monday.

Democrats are trying to "convince everyone that any policy can be called 'infrastructure'."

The Biden plan would include "one of the biggest tax increases in a generation," he said in the chamber.

If the Democratic president says he is open to negotiations, Republicans bitterly remember the quickly cut short discussions on the gigantic plan to support the economy, amounting to 1.9 trillion dollars, adopted in March.

The White House and Congressional Democrats had chosen an exceptional path that allowed them to pass this plan without the Republicans.

They could choose that option again for the infrastructure plan.

But the support of all Democrats in the Senate, essential for its adoption, is still far from guaranteed.

© 2021 AFP