Biden meets vulnerable House Democrats with agenda in limbo

President BidenJoe BidenUS & Israeli Security Officials Talk Iran & Palestinians In Washington Over Money – Presented By NRHC – Biden Plays Hard With Debt Limit With The Long, Winding Road Of Bill McConnell Highway MORE met with nearly a dozen vulnerable House Democrats on Tuesday as he and party leaders rush to pass his massive economic platform before the end of the month.

Democrats see enactment of Biden’s two-part national plan crucial to the party’s chances of retaining control of the lower house in next year’s midterm elections – a historically difficult cycle for the Party. Past President. And leaders in both chambers are scrambling to unite their opposing factions behind both the bipartisan component of infrastructure and a larger and more controversial set of climate and social protection programs.

Biden is increasingly taking the lead in this unification effort. And Tuesday’s virtual meeting with the front lines of the House – a group deemed most vulnerable – was the second in as many days.

Biden had convened a group of liberal lawmakers on Monday, who were encouraged by the president’s decision to tie the two proposals together – a strategy that simultaneously sparked yells from moderates who have been fighting for weeks to divorce the bills and vote immediately on the Senate. -successful piece of infrastructure.

“I am deeply disappointed with my president, with my leadership. I am deeply disappointed that we have not implemented a major bill that is widely supported in the country, ”said the representative. Case EdEdward (Ed) CasePLUS (D-Hawaii), a co-chair of the Moderate Blue Dogs, told The Hill this week.

But in that previous meeting, Biden also urged the Liberals to compromise, opening the door to an idea pushed by Sen. Joe manchinJoe ManchinSchumer Hosts Vote Wednesday To Suspend Debt Ceiling Overnight Energy & Environment – California Lawmakers Clash Over Oil Spill Attacks On Sinema Get More Personal MORE (DW.Va.) and other centrists to use means tests, or income limits, to lower the price of some of the liberal-backed social programs, sources said. The White House is also considering including more programs, but reducing the duration in order to reduce costs.

“The negotiations are going to get us to this right mix to see what 50 Senate Democrats can support and where we don’t lose more than three House Democrats,” said one Democrat briefed on the talks. “It’s about figuring out what we can do.”

The warring progressive and centrist factions appear to be slowly moving towards an agreement on an overall spending figure for the social spending program that should expand paid family leave, childcare programs and measures to reduce the cost of childcare. prescription drugs.

Manchin said on Tuesday he was open to a bill ranging from $ 1.9 trillion to $ 2.2 trillion, above the $ 1.5 trillion limit he publicly set last week. .

Biden, meanwhile, is trying to set expectations for progressives – many of whom already believe the current $ 3.5 trillion is a compromise from their originally preferred $ 6 trillion – to agree to a package deal. ‘about $ 2,000 billion.

On Tuesday, the president again told Democrats that the overall figure is expected to rise from $ 3.5 trillion, saying he sent the same message to progressives a day earlier. But Biden did not present lawmakers with the exact number he had in mind, sources said.

Biden “stressed that Democrats are more on the same page than people think and his commitment to seeing the two bills come to pass,” said a Democratic aide familiar with Tuesday’s meeting.

“The messaging advice he gave members was to stop focusing on the price – and the struggle over what it would end up with – and instead focus on what they want to see in it.”

Tuesday’s meeting with the frontlines brought together lawmakers from all walks of life, including progressives like Reps Katie Porter (D-Calif.) And Lucy mcbathLucia (Lucy) Kay McBath’s early redistribution plans show the GOP falling back in the long run. (D-Ga.), And moderates like Rep. Tom O’Halleran (D-Ariz.) And Abigail SpanbergerAbigail Davis SpanbergerBiden to welcome lawmakers to the White House next week amid deadlock on agenda Progressives applaud, moderates moan as Biden visit crowns chaotic week Katie Hill launches effort to protect majority House Democrat PLUS (D-Go.).

Other frontline Democrats who joined the meeting included Rep. Colin Allred (Texas), Cindy axneCindy Axne Disagree: House delays vote on infrastructure Koch-backed group launches 7-figure advertising blitz against .5T Bill Watchdog: 7 members of Congress allegedly failed to disclose stock transactions MORE (Iowa), sharice davidSharice DavidsOhio GOP congressman tests positive for Republican of North Dakota’s latest COVID-19 case, House Republican of Texas tests positive for coronavirus in latest breakthrough case MORE (Kan.), Lizzie Fletcher (Texas), Vicente Gonzalez (Texas), Lucy McBath (Ga.), Susan SauvageSusan WildCongress must help schools tackle mental health challenges Lawmakers say Biden must do more on global vaccines WHIP LIST: How House Democrats and Republicans say they will vote on infrastructure bill MORE (Pa.) And Lauren UnderwoodLauren UnderwoodClyburn receives award named in honor of John Lewis in March to kick off Washington Clyburn Film Festival: “UnAmerican” for not prioritizing Medicaid expansion in the program. spending Katie Hill launches effort to protect Democratic majority in House MORE (I go.).

Representative Andy Kim (DN.J.) was invited but had a scheduling conflict, a spokesperson said.

Another vulnerable Democrat, Rep. Elissa SlotkinElissa SlotkinWHIP LIST: How House Democrats & Republicans Say They Will Vote On Infrastructure Bill, was due to join Biden when he arrives in his Michigan district later Tuesday to sell his infrastructure package and “Build Back Better” program.

It’s all part of an effort by Biden and the White House to keep Democrats in both wings of the party close as they all enter a critical four-week period that could make or break the main pegs of the party. Biden’s national agenda. Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiSchumer organizes Wednesday’s vote to suspend the debt ceiling. (D-Calif.) Has set a new deadline for House Democrats to vote on the $ 1.2 trillion package passed by the Senate to fund roads, bridges, waterways and broadband: Halloween .

This objective is practical, since the authorization for the financing of the country’s highways expires at the end of October. But there’s also a political element at play: The election to choose Virginia’s next governor is slated for Nov. 2, and Democrats want a big legislative victory to give their candidate a boost in this contest at the elbow to elbow.

“If we don’t stick together, we will most certainly hang on separately,” the rep said. Gerry ConnollyGerald (Gerry) Edward ConnollyHow Lawmakers Helped Afghan Evacuation Overnight Defense and National Security – Congress Begins to Grill Afghanistan Connolly Tears Wilson on “You’re Lying” During Blinken Hearing MORE (D-Go.). “We have to do this. “

At Tuesday’s meeting, Biden gave each frontline player a few minutes to outline their priorities, a source said.

For example, Axne, the Democrat from Iowa, highlighted four things she wanted to see in the Build Back Better package: More funding for child care; lower the prices of prescription drugs; expand health insurance to include dental, vision and hearing care; and biofuels, including investments in the House project she pushed to cut carbon emissions while supporting Iowa farmers and businesses.

Despite internal conflicts over strategy, the parties appear to be closer to agreement on the various policy prescriptions. And even the aggrieved moderates promise to move beyond last week’s disappointments in an effort to get the two invoices to Biden’s office.

“I am deeply disappointed that we are jeopardizing the entire President’s agenda by doing this. But in all fairness, I can’t focus on that right now, ”Case said. ” It’s the past. I can not do it. The president made choices. My President made choices. These choices have consequences. I think they are negative, but our goal now is to engage constructively.

Naomi Jagoda and Morgan Chalfant contributed.