Sanders, Manchin and Sinema fight by proxy in the House

The fight between the chairman of the Senate budget committee Bernie sandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s Morning Report – Brought to you by Alibaba – Progressives ready to cash in on infrastructure bill (I-Vt.) And centrist Sens. Joe manchinJoe ManchinBudowsky: House MPs Should Support Pelosi, Here’s Why The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented By Alibaba – Progressives Willing To Cash In On Infrastructure Bill (DW.Va.) and Kyrsten CinemaKyrsten SinemaBudowsky: House MPs Should Support Pelosi, Here’s Why The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented By Alibaba – Progressives Willing To Cash In On Infrastructure Bill (D-Arizona) over the shape and size of a massive spending and tax reform bill is being played out in proxy battles between their liberal and moderate allies in the House.

For months, Sanders and Manchin – along with Sinema – have been on opposing sides of the internal Democratic debate over the size of the potential reconciliation plan and what it should include. All three are now reaching out to their progressive and centrist allies, respectively, to strengthen their negotiating positions.

Sanders initially proposed a target of $ 6 trillion for the reconciliation bill, a spending target that was ultimately reduced to $ 3.5 trillion in the budget resolution passed by both the Senate and the House.

More recently, Democrats said the top spending figure for the reconciliation bill is expected to fall below $ 3.5 trillion due to opposition from Manchin and Sinema, who say it’s over. that they are not prepared to support.

Manchin reiterated his opposition to spending what Sanders wants on Wednesday by issuing a statement saying “I cannot afford $ 3.5 trillion more in spending when we have already spent $ 5.4 trillion since last March.” .

“At some point all of us, regardless of party, have to ask ourselves the simple question: How much is enough? he said.

Sanders, however, doesn’t give up easily. He told reporters this week that the reconciliation bill is expected to spend $ 3.5 trillion “at a minimum.”

On Wednesday, he immediately rebuffed Manchin’s argument by pointing out that Democrats could raise enough revenue by raising taxes on the rich to pay for new social spending.

“If Mr. Manchin is concerned about the deficit – I think we all are, the national debt – I am sure he understands that this bill will not add a dime to the deficit because everything will be paid for by demanding the rich and big business are starting to pay their fair share of taxes, ”Sanders said Wednesday afternoon.

Sanders reached out to progressive allies to strengthen his influence with his fellow moderate Democrats.

Sanders held a conference call with House Progressives on Tuesday to urge them to reject the bipartisan $ 1,000 billion infrastructure bill, which Manchin and Sinema spent months crafting.

“There was a two-track deal and I’m not happy to see that deal reneged on, and secondly, we will lose our influence by passing a strong reconciliation bill here if they adopt the infrastructure. bill, ”Sanders said Wednesday, recounting his conversation with House Progressives.

Sanders and other progressive Democratic senators believe their House allies will hold their own and prevent the bipartisan infrastructure package from passing this week.

“They won’t play it on Thursday. Enough members of the House understand they would undermine the Build Back Better agenda, ”said a Democratic lawmaker familiar with internal discussions.

The senator predicted that without a framework agreement between the White House, Manchin and Sinema on the most important spending figure for the reconciliation plan, up to two dozen progressives would not vote for the bipartisan bill on the infrastructure, which Sinema and Manchin took the lead. in negotiations earlier this year.

representing Pramila JayapalPramila Jayapal Democrats are looking for the perfect spot for less than $ 0.5 trillion. The left warns Pelosi that it will withdraw Biden’s infrastructure bill. (D-Wash.), Chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, told reporters on Wednesday that progressives will stand united against the $ 1,000 billion infrastructure bill unless there is a breakthrough with it. Senate moderates in talks on the reconciliation package.

“We have already laid out our vision and we will stick to that vision,” she said.

Manchin and Sinema have also reached out to colleagues to help them improve their negotiating position with the Liberals.

They urged House moderates in August to put pressure on the president Nancy PelosiNancy Pelosi Woman Who Said She Hopes To Shoot Pelosi On Jan 6 Pleads Guilty To Foul Budowsky: House Dems Should Support Pelosi, Here’s Why The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented By Alibaba – Progressives Willing To Cash In On Bill PLUS infrastructures (D-Calif.) To schedule a quick vote on the bipartisan infrastructure package, even though Pelosi had previously committed to upholding the bill until the larger reconciliation package containing President BidenJoe Biden’s Vaccination Rise Includes Biggest Republican Gain Since April: Gallup Power Grab? The Federal Reserve may soon be our only Ford bank asking salaried workers for PLUS vaccine statusthe human infrastructure agenda was ready to move.

This awareness paid off when Rep. Josh gottheimerJoshua (Josh) GottheimerLeft warns Pelosi they will withdraw Biden infrastructure bill (DN.J.), the leader of the bipartisan Problem Solver Caucus and other House moderates pressured Pelosi last month to agree to a vote on the bipartisan infrastructure package by September 27. Pelosi postponed that vote until Thursday to give his whip team more time to round up the votes.

Gottheimer has been in regular contact with Manchin and Sinema, coordinating messages on the push for a quick vote on the infrastructure deal passed by the Senate and negotiated by Sinema.

Gottheimer was spotted meeting in person Sinema, his former House colleague, and speaks frequently to Manchin and Sinema by phone, sources say.

Sinema and Manchin also reached out to House liberals in their efforts to smooth the way for the bipartisan infrastructure package and to shape the lower house reconciliation package.

Jayapal said she called and texted Sinema.

And another key progressive, Rep. Ro KhannaRohit (Ro) KhannaLeft warns Pelosi they will withdraw Biden infrastructure bill House passes defense policy bill overnight Defense and National Security – Iron Dome funding clears House MORE (D-Calif.), Who served as national co-chair of Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign, said he was in talks with Manchin.

Khanna told The Hill he believes Manchin will ultimately support a human infrastructure spending program that meets the priorities of progressive Democrats. He questioned that Sinema could be relied on in the same way.

“I have a good relationship with Senator Manchin and he happens when the chips are low,” Khanna told The Hill. “The problem here is really with Sinema and his reluctance to even offer an issue or engage in good faith negotiations.”

Sinema appears to have a significant influence on the conversation in the House regarding Sanders’ proposal to give Medicare the power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices.

Sinema’s close friend and centrist colleague, Rep. Scott petersScott H. PetersOvernight Health Care – Brought to you by Altria – Progress on vaccines for children Manchin raises red flag on carbon tax Democrats scramble to satisfy disparate members on MORE spending program (D-Calif.), Was one of three moderate Democrats who voted against and blocked an Energy and Trade Committee proposal to allow the federal government to negotiate lower drug prices.

Sanders was enraged by the setback in committee, issuing a statement declaring “there is no excuse that every Democrat does not support him.”

representing Dan KildeeDaniel (Dan) Timothy KildeeEquilibrium / Sustainability – Presented by American Petroleum Institute – Dems Demands Big Oil Group Accounting Bipartisan House Calls on Biden to Stop Canada’s Nuclear Storage Plans in the Great Lakes. (D-Mich.) Said there had been a lot of communication between senators and members of the House ahead of Thursday’s vote on the bipartisan $ 1,000 billion infrastructure package.

“There is a certain alignment and coordination across the spectrum between senators and members of the House,” he said.

He predicted Pelosi would not let the bill go ahead with a vote unless she knew enough progressives would support it.

“The only way the vote takes place is if we have the votes to pass the bill,” he said. “We don’t put bills on the ground with the idea that we’re going to defeat them.”

Mike Lillis and Cristina Marcos contributed.