Former Vice President Al Gore
Albert (Al) Arnold GoreVP dilemma: The establishment or the base? Democrats like what they saw in Harris-Charlamagne tha God exchange COVID-19 makes Biden's 1st White House Christmas less merry MORE reportedly urged President Biden
Joe BidenBiden, lawmakers mourn Harry Reid 29 percent of GOP support efforts to charge accused Jan. 6 rioters: poll Congress must meet the moment to hold Big Pharma accountable MORE in private to keep climate-focused policies in his expansive infrastructure bill as he struggles to shore up GOP support for the bill.
Sources familiar with the situation told The Washington Post that Gore, an extremely prominent environmentalist, made the call to Biden last month after being encouraged to do so by former White House Chief of Staff John Podesta. During the call, Gore also asked Biden to block the planned Byhalia Pipeline, which transport crude oil through predominantly Black neighborhoods in Memphis and could potentially affect drinking water.
The former vice president also spoke to Biden aide Steve Ricchetti
Steve RicchettiWhite House incivility is what 'lost' Joe Manchin Biden's unending dilemma: Dealing with Joe Manchin Why you shouldn't expect a Biden shake-up MORE about climate and infrastructure, the Post reports.
The private lobbying from Gore comes shortly before Biden is set to discuss measures to combat climate change at the Group of Seven summit in Cornwall, England this week. The G7 leaders are expected to announce new commitments to combating climate change, though Biden will be limited in what he can push for due to ongoing gridlock in D.C.
On Tuesday, Biden ended negotiations with a GOP group led by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito
Shelley Wellons Moore CapitoHarry, Meghan push family leave with annual holiday card Ocasio-Cortez: Manchin rationale for opposing Biden's bill 'a farce' Trump demands undermine unity of GOP leaders MORE (R-W.Va.), failing to reach an agreement after weeks of talks. Biden will instead be focusing on discussions between a bipartisan group of moderate senators, including Sens. Kyrsten Sinema
Kyrsten SinemaMitch McConnell should win 2021's 'Politician of the Year' Biden finds uneven footing with Black voters Democrats set for showdown over filibuster, voting rights MORE (D-Ariz.), Rob Portman
Robert (Rob) Jones PortmanDefense & National Security — Biden signs mammoth defense bill The 10 races that will decide the Senate majority Ukraine president, US lawmakers huddle amid tensions with Russia MORE (R-Ohio), Bill Cassidy
Bill CassidyManchin faces pressure from Gillibrand, other colleagues on paid family leave Overnight Energy & Environment — Presented by ExxonMobil — Biden orders end to overseas coal finance Transformational legislation should be bipartisan again MORE (R-La.) and Joe Manchin
Joe ManchinHarry Reid, political pugilist and longtime Senate majority leader, dies Meeting Manchin in the middle on the Child Tax Credit Greta Thunberg says it's 'strange' Biden is considered a leader on climate change MORE (D-W.Va.)
On Thursday, the bipartisan group announced that they had reached an agreement on an infrastructure deal that invests $1.2 trillion over eight years.
“Our group — comprised of 10 senators, five from each party — has worked in good faith and reached a bipartisan agreement on a realistic, compromise framework to modernize our nation’s infrastructure and energy technologies,” the coalition said in a joint statement. "This investment would be fully paid for and not include tax increases.”
