The Canadian Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday warned naysayers in Congress not to “get in the way” of his big infrastructure plans as the White House panned a counteroffer from Republican senators to tap unused COVID-19 relief for a more modest investment in roads, highways and other traditional public works projects. After touring a manufacturing technology center at a community college in Cleveland, Biden held up a card with the names of Republicans lawmakers who had rejected his coronavirus aid bill in Washington but later promoted its assistance when they were back home in front of voters. He warned them not to play similar games as he pushes this next legislative priority in Congress. “I’m not going to embarrass anyone, but I have here a list," he said. “If you’re going to take credit for what we’ve done,” he continued, “don’t get in the way of what we need to do.” The political arguments over Biden's ambitious proposals are quickly distilling into a debate over the size and scope of what all sides agree are sorely needed upgrades to the nation's aging and outmoded infrastructure. As the president reaches for a soaring legislative achievement with his $1.7 trillion American Jobs Plan and a separate $1.8 trillion American Families Plan, he is assessing whether he can cut a bipartisan deal with Republicans or will have to push through his proposals with only Democratic votes. Republican senators outlined a $928 billion infrastructure proposal Thursday as a counteroffer to Biden, drawing a fresh red line against his plans raise the corporate tax, from 21% to 28%, to pay for new spending. Instead, the Republicans want to shift unspent COVID-19 relief dollars to help cover the costs, a nonstarter for many Democrats. The Republican senators said their offer, raised from an initial $568 billion, delivers on “core infrastructure investments” that Biden has focused on as areas of potential agreement. With about $250 billion in new spending, the GOP plan remains far from the president’s approach. Biden reduced his $2.3 trillion opening bid to $1.7 trillion in earlier negotiations. “It’s a serious effort to try to reach a bipartisan agreement,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, the lead Republican negotiator. As Biden left for Ohio, he said he called Capito to thank her for the proposal, but told her, “We have to finish this really soon.” Biden toured Cuyahoga Community College, the same school where he was to hold a campaign rally in March 2020 only to have it be the first one canceled due to the pandemic. He cast his return as a symbol of how far the nation has come back, and he tried to make the case that passing his jobs and families plans would further the economy's recovery and prepare it for the decades ahead. The president said he was “not looking to punish anyone” with his tax plans. But said it was time for America’s wealthy and corporations to help invest in the nation’s future. “Do you want to give the wealthiest people in America another tax cut? I don’t begrudge them the money they make. Just start paying your fair share just a little bit,” Biden said. Talks are at a crossroads before a Memorial Day deadline to make progress toward a bipartisan deal. With slim majorities in the House and Senate, the Democratic president faces other hurdles if he decides to abandon talks with Republicans and tries to unite fractious Democrats. The Republican offer would increase spending by $91 billion on roads and bridges, $48 billion on water resources and $25 billion on airports, according to a one-page summary released by the GOP negotiators. It would provide for one-time increases in broadband investments, at $65 billion, and $22 billion on rail. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said on CNBC that it was time for the administration to “sober up and realize they don’t have a massive mandate in Congress to do all of the things they’re trying to do.” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden and Capito are expected to meet next week, while Congress is on a break. The White House is also “continuing to explore other proposals that we hope will emerge” she said. A bipartisan group of lawmakers that includes Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, is also preparing an alternative plan. Psaki made clear the administration’s concern over tapping pandemic funds. “We are worried that major cuts in COVID relief funds could imperil pending aid to small businesses, restaurants and rural hospitals using this money to get back on their feet after the crush of the pandemic,” Psaki said in a statement. Core differences remain between the White House and GOP negotiators over the definition of infrastructure: Republicans stick to traditional investments in roads, bridges, ports and water drinking systems, while Biden takes a more expansive view. Under Biden's initial proposal, there is more than $300 billion for substantial upgrades to public schools, Veterans Administration hospitals and affordable housing, along with $25 billion for new and renovated child care centers. Biden’s proposal would spend heavily on efforts to confront climate change, with $174 billion to spur the electric vehicle market, in part by developing charging stations, and $50 billion so communities can better deal with floods, hurricanes, wildfires and other natural disasters. One area of agreement is on boosting broadband, but the sides are apart on details. Republicans raised their initial offer to $65 billion in an earlier exchange; Biden is seeking $100 billion. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said the Republicans' overall proposal reflects what “what people at home in Wyoming think of is infrastructure, roads with potholes.” The White House, still expressing public hopes for bipartisanship, welcomed the offer. At $928 billion over eight years, it features $257 billion in new money, more than the $225 billion the White House had said was in the initial Republican proposal. But still far less than the White House had hoped. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., said there is $700 billion in unspent COVID-19 aid from the American Rescue Plan, which was the administration's $1.9 trillion response to the coronavirus crisis earlier this year. Toomey said some of that money could fill the gap between the amount of revenue normally collected from transportation taxes and fees, and the new spending the GOP senators are proposing. But he said the Republican negotiators have made it “very, very clear on every single time we’ve had a discussion is that we’re not raising taxes.” Lisa Mascaro And Jonathan Lemire, The Associated Press<doc-sep>Home sales in Metro Vancouver for the month of March dropped to the lowest levels in more than 30 years, according to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. On Tuesday, the board said 1,727 homes were sold in the region — the lowest total for the month since 1986. Those sales are also more than 31 per cent lower than March 2018, and more than 46 per cent lower than the 10-year sales average for March. Despite lacklustre activity from buyers, there was an increase in the number of homes listed last month compared with March 2018. Nearly 4,950 residential properties hit the market in March 2019 — an increase of around 11 per cent from the same month last year. The benchmark price for a detached home in Vancouver declined to a little more than $1.4 million, down from $1.5 million in March 2018. For condos, the benchmark price dropped nearly six per cent to $656,900. Townhomes were listed for a standard price of $783,600, also down six per cent from the same month last year.<doc-sep>
Send this page to someone via email Home prices across Metro Vancouver continued their slow decline in March, according to new figures from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV). The board reported both year-over-year and month-to-month declines across all housing types for the month. According to the board’s latest report, the benchmark price of a detached home now sits at $1.43 million, down 10.5 per cent from March 2018 and down 0.4 per cent from February 2019. The benchmark price of a condo now sits at $656,900, down 5.9 per cent from March 2018 and down 0.5 per cent from February 2019. WATCH: Vancouver housing market Spring predictions 6:34 Vancouver housing market Spring predictions Vancouver housing market Spring predictions – Mar 3, 2019 Townhouse prices are also on the decline with a benchmark price of $783,600, down six per cent from March 2018 and 0.7 per cent from February 2019. Story continues below advertisement READ MORE: Lower Mainland real estate cooldown continues as sales drop 42% below 10-year average The slide in prices comes as sales dipped to 46.3 per cent below the 10-year March sales average, marking the lowest number of sales since 1986. View image in full screen Metro Vancouver home prices since 1977. Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver Sales did see a slight spring bump, rising 16.4 per cent from February 2019. The REBGV has pinned the slide on government intervention. “Housing demand today isn’t aligning with our growing economy and low unemployment rates. The market trends we’re seeing are largely policy-induced,” said REBGV president Ashley Smith in a media release. “For three years, governments at all levels have imposed new taxes and borrowing requirements onto the housing market.” Story continues below advertisement READ MORE: Metro Vancouver housing sales hit nearly 20 year low Smith argued that government interventions aren’t actually reducing demand, just kicking it further into the future. WATCH (January 2019): Big slump in Metro Vancouver home sales 1:52 Big slump in Metro Vancouver home sales Big slump in Metro Vancouver home sales – Jan 4, 2019 The data also points to a growing inventory of homes with the total number of homes listed on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) up 52.4 per cent compared to March 2018. New numbers from the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board also show a spring bump in sales but a 26.6 per cent decline over March 2018, representing the weakest March since 2013. The benchmark price of a detached home in the valley sat at $963,100 in March, down 4.2 per cent over March 2018 but up 0.4 per cent from February. Story continues below advertisement For condos, the benchmark price sat at $418,000, down 5.1 per cent from March 2018 but up two per cent from February.