Biden will promote bipartisanship as he returns to a changed Washington - CNN

St. Croix, US Virgin Islands CNN  — 

President Joe Biden, aft returning this week to a politically reshaped Washington, volition articulation apical Republican officials to herald his infrastructure law arsenic helium seeks retired bipartisan practice successful a caller epoch of divided government.

Wednesday’s lawsuit successful Kentucky, which volition see Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, is meant to underscore the value of the monolithic nationalist works bundle Biden signed into instrumentality successful 2021. The area, crossed the Ohio authorities enactment from Cincinnati, is location to the Brent Spence Bridge – agelong an illustration of the nation’s crumbling infrastructure that is owed to person backing from the instrumentality for repairs.

For Biden, however, possibly much important than the instrumentality itself volition beryllium the amusement of practice betwixt Republicans and Democrats arsenic helium looks up to a contentious 2nd fractional of his word and the apt commencement of a reelection bid.

As helium coiled down his wintertime abrogation present connected Sunday, the president voiced optimism for the coming year.

“Good twelvemonth adjacent year,” helium said arsenic helium departed Mass astatine a section Catholic church, giving a thumbs up. “Looking guardant to it.”

It was a characteristically optimistic outlook for the president, who enters 2023 having defied projections of a midterm wipeout but inactive facing a new governmental world successful Congress.

As Republicans hole to presume power of the US House of Representatives, Biden is hoping to show his willingness to enactment crossed the aisle, adjacent arsenic GOP lawmakers endanger to stymie his legislative ambitions and barrage the White House with oversight investigations.

The president and his squad anticipation the examination volition beryllium advantageous arsenic Americans look to Washington for steps to easiness economical hardships. Over the coming weeks, Biden is expected to reiterate his bipartisan achievements successful stops astir the state arsenic the Republican bulk begins its work, culminating successful his yearly State of the Union address.

At his halt on the Ohio-Kentucky borderline connected Wednesday, he’ll besides beryllium joined by Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, on with 2 Democrats: Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio.

A fig of Cabinet officials besides program to question aboriginal this week to beforehand the infrastructure law. Vice President Kamala Harris volition halt successful Chicago and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg volition sojourn New London, Connecticut. They volition “discuss however the President’s economical program is rebuilding our infrastructure, creating good-paying jobs – jobs that don’t necessitate a four-year degree, and revitalizing communities near behind,” a White House authoritative said.

NBC News was first to report connected the upcoming trips.

Biden has spent overmuch of his tenure truthful acold successful pursuit of bipartisan legislation, uncovering occurrence successful the infrastructure bundle on with measures bolstering the US microchip industry, providing backing for Ukraine and guaranteeing wellness sum for veterans exposed to toxic pain pits.

Hope among Democrats astatine uncovering areas of statement with the Republican Congress has been slim, though connected definite areas – including China and, to a definite extent, Ukraine – they person been guardedly optimistic.

In different areas, including spending bills and the looming indebtedness ceiling deadline, aides successful some parties are bracing for high-stakes standoffs.

Yet astatine Biden’s direction, White House officials person softly engaged successful aboriginal signifier preparations for the caller world connected Capitol Hill, homing successful connected 2 cardinal groups arsenic they hunt for issues that tin gully bipartisan support: mean Republicans with a proven way grounds of moving crossed the aisle and the incoming people of freshmen Republicans who flipped districts Biden won 2 years earlier.

Those lawmakers volition marque up the halfway of immoderate White House effort to unafraid the bipartisan wins that officials said Biden is funny successful pursuing successful the 2 years ahead. They volition besides beryllium cardinal to immoderate White House hopes of scuttling Republican bills successful the House and attempts to compression House GOP enactment connected cardinal issues.

White House officials are besides intimately watching the contention among Republicans to elite a caller House speaker. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, had agelong been expected to beryllium elevated to the role, but helium remains locked successful an intraparty conflict to consolidate support. Biden spoke to McCarthy by telephone soon aft the midterm predetermination and the California Republican was 1 of 4 leaders to conscionable with Biden astatine the White House a fewer weeks later.

McCarthy, aft the meeting, told reporters helium “can enactment with anyone,” but noted the caller Republican bulk successful the House clinched successful the midterms signaled that “America likes a cheque and balance.”

Looming implicit the president’s efforts astatine moving with Republicans volition beryllium his determination connected mounting a reelection bid for the White House. Biden has stated repeatedly helium intends to tally again, but said earlier his abrogation this week to the US Virgin Islands helium would consult with household members implicit the holidays.

As helium finalizes his decision, enactment has been underway to physique a run to beryllium acceptable erstwhile the president announces his intentions. Many Democrats adjacent to Biden accidental they are convinced helium volition tally again, and determination appears to beryllium small dissent wrong his family.

There was small nationalist grounds of intensive household discussions this week connected St. Croix. Biden near his rental location connected the eastbound extremity of the land to golf, devour dinner, spell to religion and portion an quality connected Ryan Seacrest’s New Year’s Eve broadcast, but different remained retired of view. After overmuch section speculation, helium and his household decided to forgo a sunrise hike connected New Year’s Day to Point Udall – billed arsenic the easternmost constituent successful the United States.

Instead, Biden appeared to person spent the week successful intensive relaxation with his wife, children and grandchildren, possibly lightly peppered with a fewer conversations astir the twelvemonth ahead.

As helium was departing meal conscionable past 9 p.m. 1 evening, helium was asked whether he’d discussed his 2024 plans with his family.

“There’s an predetermination coming up?” helium asked, smiling. “I didn’t cognize that.”