Biden’s assurances on infrastructure deal not enough to satisfy McConnell

WASHINGTON — The $579 billion bipartisan infrastructure deal remained on shaky ground Monday, despite efforts by President Joe Biden to save the deal he signed off on and then nearly sunk.

But his assurances were not enough for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who may hold the keys to getting the deal through the Senate.

Biden on Saturday walked back his Thursday remarks that he wouldn’t sign the infrastructure bill if Congress didn’t also pass a separate Democrats-only package with his remaining priorities — a demand that prompted Republicans to balk at the bipartisan deal.

Revealing the delicate balancing act, Biden’s guarantees to Republicans were carefully designed not to alienate Democrats who want to see more spending on a wide range of programs that weren’t included in the deal, like addressing climate change or making funds available for in-home elderly care.