Infrastructure Read
Progressives flexed, but remain empty-handed. Moderates feel betrayed. The outcome of their battle could determine Democrats’ fate in the midterms and the success of the Biden presidency.
The president’s push for transformative policies is running into the realities of governing with no votes to spare.
After pressing toward a vote, Democratic leaders accepted “reality” that the bill could not pass before a broad climate change and safety net measure comes together.
Their persistence forced Speaker Nancy Pelosi to delay a planned vote on the $1 trillion infrastructure bill. In the end, President Biden sided with their position.
Representative Pramila Jayapal, the leader of the Democrats’ progressive caucus, voiced optimism about passing both pieces of President Biden’s domestic agenda. Her group opposes passing an infrastructure bill until the social spending plan advances.
When the new fiscal year began on Friday, some programs covered by the stalled infrastructure bill froze and about 3,700 workers were furloughed.
The House and Senate were both expected to pass short-term spending bills to fund the government, but a planned vote on a $1 trillion infrastructure bill was in limbo amid deep party divisions.
Congress managed to keep the government from shutting down after midnight, but President Biden’s economic agenda, including a popular infrastructure bill, was ensnared in an intraparty battle.
When you’re facing a social crisis it’s time to go big.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that the bipartisan infrastructure bill would be voted on later in the day but stressed that her caucus would need assurances that a larger $3.5 trillion bill would be approved later.
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