The House canceled a Monday vote to approve two important economic proposals because centrist Democrats failed to reach an agreement with party leaders on how to move forward with President Joe Biden’s vast economic agenda.
On Tuesday, the chamber will meet again at noon ET to discuss how Democrats can reach a compromise to continue with legislation that they view as an economic boon for households and a lifeline to their constituents. Biden’s domestic policies and his party’s push for control of Congress next year’s midterms could all hinge on Democrats finding a compromise.
Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker, has advocated for the passage of a bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure bill as well as her party’s $3.5 trillion spending plan simultaneously. This process could take weeks to months because the House must join the Senate in passing the budget resolution before lawmakers can write the final proposal.
Nine members of Pelosi’s caucus urged the California Democrat this week to approve the Senate’s infrastructure legislation and send it to Biden. Pelosi would like to combine the bills to protect the centrists from a $3.5 trillion price tag, and the progressives from rejecting the infrastructure plan.
Pelosi wanted to vote Monday on a measure which would advance the infrastructure bill and the budget plan, but the nine lawmakers opposed it. Pelosi hoped to approve the budget resolution by Tuesday. Then, after the Senate had approved the final spending plan of the Democrats, she would hold a final vote.
Pelosi and her top deputy engaged in hours of conversation Monday night with holdouts, including New Jersey Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer, as they failed to get the votes necessary to proceed. According to reports, Democratic leaders offered to vote on the infrastructure bill before Oct. 1.
Pelosi was asked by reporters as she left Capitol Tuesday morning if the lawmakers were going to set a date for an Infrastructure vote. She replied, “We will see tomorrow. won’t you now?”
The nine Democrats stated in a Washington Post column that they were opposed to “holding the president’s infrastructure legislation hostage” to reconciliation. They also warned against its passage and bipartisan support.
Democratic leaders will use budget reconciliation in an attempt to pass their plan to increase the social safety net, curb climate change, and expand the budget. This would enable the party to approve it with no vote from Republicans.
The GOP opposes the trillion-dollar plan’s spending and tax increases on corporations and wealthy.
Democrats do have some margin of error, even though they don’t need Republican support. They must win the support of all 50 senators, as well as all other Democrats in the House.
The proposed price tag of $3.5 trillion has been criticized by the Senate’s centrists.
The budget plan would increase Medicare coverage, extend the strengthened household tax credits that were passed last year, encourage green energy, pay more for family and medical leave, and improve access to child care. Biden views it as a complement to the infrastructure plan.
Bipartisan legislation would allocate $550 billion to transportation, broadband, and utilities.