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If President Joe Biden did, indeed, say over the weekend "let's get this done" -- referring to a genuine, bipartisan compromise on billion in infrastructure spending -- then he's got the right person reportedly negotiating with him Wednesday in Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.
"I think we can get to real compromise, absolutely, because we're both still in the game," Capito said.
Sen. Capito understands what Americans, particularly those of us here in West Virginia and the rest of Appalachia, need in an infrastructure bill, and she understands we can't just print and spend money to get that done.
For now, though, the differences between the Republican proposal and Biden's plan seem too vast to bridge.
GOP lawmakers are seeking $928 billion to rebuild the nation's infrastructure, paid for in part by unspent COVID-19 funds.
Meanwhile, Biden's proposal has been squeezed down to $1.7 trillion, with the president suggesting an increase of the corporate tax rate, from 21% to 28% to help pay for it.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is correct that when Congress resumes on June 7, "we need a clear direction" on infrastructure spending.
Capito can guide that process, if Biden will listen to her.
She understands what the word "infrastructure" means, she understands what is truly needed to do right by the people she was elected to represent, and she understands Congress can't authorize throwing incomprehensible sums of money at a problem if no one truly understands where they will come up with all that funding (and whether it would do more harm than good).
We are fortunate she is in our corner today.