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The US president makes a rare visit to Congress, but the move fails to convince Democrats to compromise on the two spending bills.
US Congressional Democrats withdrew a planned vote on a $ 1.2 trillion infrastructure bill to transform transportation networks and broadband access in the United States, as lawmakers refused for the second consecutive day to unite behind a double spending bill estimated at 3.5 dollars. one thousand billion.
Nancy Pelosi, the leader of the House Democrats, withdrew the vote on Friday night as congressional leaders mediated disputes between the party’s centrists and lefts in the House and Senate. Pelosi previously postponed the vote on Thursday.
Democrats had spent much of the week fighting for the size of a $ 3.5 trillion social spending bill, delaying the vote on the most popular infrastructure bill.
Earlier on Friday, President Joe Biden visited the United States Congress to pressure his fellow Democrats to negotiate the two landmark spending bills that could define his legacy – or signify crippling political failure.
“I’m telling you, we’ll get there,” he told reporters after meeting with House Democrats who are deeply divided over a spending spree that Biden said would restore the battered American middle class.
“It doesn’t matter when. It doesn’t matter if it’s six minutes, six days, or six weeks, we’re going to do it. “
The Reuters news agency quoted members of Congress as saying that Biden had told members of his party that he was prepared to cut a bill to increase social spending and fight climate change, but that he wanted adopt it at the same time as the infrastructure bill.
Biden’s rare visit to Capitol Hill capped a tumultuous week that saw lawmakers narrowly avoid a government shutdown and postpone a House of Representatives vote on the infrastructure bill already passed by the Senate.
The president told reporters after his 40-minute meeting with the cranky Democratic caucus that there was no rush to pass his agenda.
In-game inheritance
Biden’s political legacy is at stake, and therefore likely Democrats’ chances of retaining control of Congress in the midterm elections next year.
However, on Thursday a chicken game between moderate Democrats and more left-wing members on the bills ended in stalemate.
Their minimal majority in Congress means that even a few defections could prevent the votes from succeeding.
President Joe Biden traveled to Capitol Hill to urge fellow Democrats in Congress to overcome divisions that threatened his national agenda, after the House of Representatives postponed the vote on his $ 1 trillion infrastructure bill of dollars https://t.co/xF3OCZTcvx pic.twitter.com/hlWjH1nPnx
– Reuters (@Reuters) October 1, 2021
The stalemate on the Democratic side is rooted in political differences over how much the government should spend, but also a lack of trust between competing factions.
On the one hand, moderate Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema refused to support the proposed price of $ 3.5 trillion for the social spending program.
They are supporting something more modest, however, with Manchin offering $ 1.5 trillion. They have also already voted in favor of the separate $ 1.2 trillion infrastructure bill.
In the House, a younger and fiery generation of representatives more to the left are insisting on keeping the $ 3.5 trillion figure for social spending, or at least something close to it.
And to maintain their bargaining power, they refuse to back the popular $ 1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, saying it can only happen once they know they have a ‘yes’. of the Democrat-controlled Senate for the social spending deal.
“If there is something else missing from a vote that someone can offer me that gives me the same assurances, I want to listen to it,” Pramila Jayapal, president of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, told reporters. in a hint that the left might be ready to compromise.
“But for now, I still say we need a vote.”
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