Long-standing ties between Biden and McConnell could shape early agenda
Joe Biden wanted to raise taxes on wealthy estates. Mitch McConnell wanted to keep them low. The two longtime Washington politicians quickly discovered one point of agreement: the vote count.
With former president George W. Bush’s tax cuts headed toward expiration in December 2010, McConnell phoned Biden and told him that Senate Republicans had enough votes to keep the lower estate tax. Biden respected McConnell’s math. They eventually struck an agreement that marked the first of several times McConnell and Biden would reach a bipartisan deal to avert a looming financial cliff during the Obama administration, forming what multiple lawmakers and aides described as a sincere, if professional, bond that may soon be the most important in national politics.
“They genuinely like each other. There was a mutual understanding there. Even though he was the vice president, Biden’s mannerisms, his behavior — the cadence; the language — it was very senatorial,” said Rohit Kumar, who served as McConnell’s top aide during these negotiations, and is now co-leader at the national tax office of PwC, a consulting firm. “If I sensed that, McConnell sensed it, too.”
President-elect Biden and Senate Majority Leader McConnell (R-Ky.), who’ve known each other for decades, have emerged from last week’s elections poised to become Washington’s new power brokers. Both have shown an inclination to make deals, and they have cut major deals working directly with each other. As Biden prepares to take office and lead a nation gripped by crisis and turmoil, the two men, both nearing 80, hold the potential to reach bipartisan agreements that can redefine the scope of government and shape the nation’s economy.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/long-standing-ties-between-biden-and-mcconnell-could-shape-early-agenda/ar-BB1aQLlF?li=BBnbfcQ&ocid=DELLDHP
Interesting article. Don't think I have that much faith when dealing with Moscow Mitch. Good for Joe if he can influence him.
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