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U.S. Sen. Young Sees Common Ground On Agenda After Biden Address To Congress

U.S. Rep. André Carson (D-Indianapolis), left, is a strong backer of President Joe Biden's agenda. U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), right, said there are some areas of agreement. (Congress.gov)"

President Joe Biden focused his first address to Congress on pitching his two latest policy proposals: the American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan.

Biden’s proposals would spend trillions of dollars on child care, pre-K, infrastructure and much more. U.S. Rep. André Carson (D-Indianapolis) called them “a job creator.”

“As cars and vehicles are getting smarter, our roads have to get smarter," Carson said. "So, this infrastructure bill is not only going to do a lot of Indiana, it’s going to do a lot for our country.”

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U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) wants to focus on what he calls “traditional” infrastructure: transportation, energy and internet. And he said paying for it can use dollars that have already gone out.

“There’s a lot of money that’s gone out the door at the state and local level for COVID purposes that hasn’t been needed," Young said. "And so, we should allow states and localities to offer that up as matching money to help fund much of this infrastructure.”

Young said he also wants to see better enforcement of the existing federal tax code as a way to generate more revenue.

Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.