South Dakota’s U.S. Senators are split on a bipartisan infrastructure package.
Senator John Thune voted against a procedural move to advance the package, saying he wants to see the final details. However, Thune says he is open to voting for the bill.
Thune says Senate leaders may work on a deal to amend the proposal.
The White House says the package includes 110 billion dollars for roads, bridges , and other major projects. 66 billion dollars goes to railroads. And 73 billion dollars in energy infrastructure and clean energy transmission. The package still needs a final price tag from the Congressional Budget Office.
U.S. Senator Mike Rounds was absent for the vote, but his spokesperson says he supports the procedural move.
Rounds has spent months on infrastructure negotiations. He was at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where his wife Jean is undergoing cancer treatments.
The Senator is prepared to fly back to Washington if his vote is needed.
The procedural move got 67 votes, which is a supermajority. A final vote on the bill is expected in the coming days.