Pelosi stages risky House vote to judge approved $ 3.5 billion budget

Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy Pelosi Five lawmakers to watch ahead of key House budget vote Pelosi says the House is working to pass infrastructure bills by October 1. (D-Calif.) And his leadership team are moving forward with a risky strategy Monday to move forward on key elements of President BidenJoe BidenHenri demoted to tropical depression as he pours rain over northeastern Britain to urge G7 leaders to consider adopting Taliban sanctions: report Five lawmakers to watch before vote room budget key PLUSof the national agenda while refusing to bow to the demands of a handful of centrists.

The plan would see the House vote on a rule on Monday night that would deem a $ 3.5 trillion budget passed, while also putting in place a process to consider a bipartisan infrastructure bill approved by the Senate in an indefinite time.

The strategy is risky as 10 centrist Democrats have said they will not support the $ 3.5 billion budget without voting on the infrastructure bill first. It is not clear that these Democrats will vote for the rule that deems the budget to be passed.

Pelosi can only afford three defections if all Republicans as expected vote against the rule.

If the rule fails, it would be an embarrassing setback for Democrats that would highlight their divisions.

Pelosi sided with the House Liberals, who make up a large majority of his caucus, in demanding that the House approve the budget before taking action on the infrastructure bill.

Pelosi rarely brings anything to the floor that doesn’t have enough votes to get through, and fellow Democrats wondered on Monday if she could find the votes to advance the rule.

Members of Pelosi’s management team seemed uncertain if the plan would actually work.

When asked if the Democrats had enough votes to pass the rule, House Majority Whip James Clyburn (DS.C.) replied: “I have no idea.”

Shortly after the Main Democrats announced their new plan, Rep. Josh gottheimerJoshua (Josh) Gottheimer Five lawmakers to watch ahead of key House budget vote Pelosi says the House is working to pass infrastructure bills by October 1. (DN.J.), the leader of the centrist group demanding an immediate vote on the Senate infrastructure bill, has started to stick together with House leaders.

A moderate Democrat predicted the latter strategy would not work: “The rule is going down,” lawmaker told The Hill.

Progressives, meanwhile, expressed frustration with centrists who only started demanding a quick vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill passed by the Senate earlier this month, even though Pelosi has said for months that the House will not vote until the bigger $ 3.5 trillion spending plan. to widen the social safety net is done.

“The idea of ​​just throwing a bomb at the 11th hour just doesn’t seem responsible to the people of this country who expect a legislature that works for them,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-Cortez ‘Cat Ladies Without Children’ And The Long Regulatory History That Counts As US Congressional Staff Salary Still Too Low BIPOC’s Life Really Matters In New Census Report MORE (DN.Y.).

Members of Pelosi’s leadership team presented the rule vote as a test of the party unity needed to accomplish Biden’s agenda.

“The rule is to be in the majority. There is a long way to go on the legislative issues that will play out over the next month. But for the moment, the discussion is over, the Chamber must proceed, ”declared the chairman of the Chamber’s Ways and Means Committee. Richard nealRichard Edmund NealOn The Money: White House rules out extension of unemployment assistance in the event of a pandemic | Treasury: Few small business owners to see tax hikes Yellen, Walsh rule out extension of unemployment assistance in pandemic Trump faces legal hurdles to keep tax returns private MORE (D-Mass.).

The White House has also been working overtime to try to put Democrats on the path to victory.

Labor secretary Marty walshMarty WalshOn The Money: White House rules out extension of unemployment assistance in the event of a pandemic | Treasury: Few small business owners will see tax hikes Yellen, Walsh rule out extension of unemployment assistance in pandemic Boston mayor compares vaccine passports to documents required during slavery, childbirth MORE, Energy secretary Jennifer granholmJennifer Granholm Bill Gates pledges $ 0.5 billion for climate projects in infrastructure bill Energy chief touts funding for electric vehicles in Senate House plan passes bill demanding EPA regulates ‘chemicals forever’ in drinking water | Granholm announces new building energy codes PLUS, Secretary of Agriculture Tom vilsackTom Vilsack USDA: Farm-to-School Programs Help Schools Serve Healthier Meals NIGHT MONEY: Home to Pass Debt Ceiling Bill MORE, as well as the main collaborators of the White House Louisa terrellLouisa TerrellThe Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by AT&T – Census Marks First Time in US: White Population Declines Issue: IRS funding blocks bipartisan infrastructure deal On the money: Pelosi pushes McConnell back on infrastructure | White House holds plenary press on infrastructure deal | Supreme Court leaves moratorium on evictions from CDC PLUS intact, Shuwanza Goff, Brian DeeseBrian DeeseOvernight Energy: White House calls for investigation into “discrepancies” between oil price and gasoline costs | Rail advocates say infrastructure bill is insufficient | 34 states facing heat advisories as Pacific Northwest faces new heat wave White House calls for investigation into “discrepancies” between oil price and gasoline costs Steve Ricchetti is Biden’s right-hand man in the Senate MORE and Shalanda Young organized appeals with members of the Nine Moderates, urging them to support the rule on Monday and hear their concerns, a source close to the appeals said.

Naomi Jagoda and Brett Samuels contributed to it.

Update 8 p.m.