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These centrists want the bipartisan infrastructure bill passed in the House, but are less inclined to a comprehensive spending package that could cost up to $ 3.5 trillion. House progressives, meanwhile, are threatening to defeat infrastructure legislation without certain guarantees on the multibillion-dollar social safety net bill that would reform child care policies, care. health and climate change.
“The resolution is not here in this caucus – the resolution is with two senators and the rest of the 98% Democratic caucus,” Jayapal said, noting that she had been in contact with the White House “several times” since. last night.
“I’m very confident that we’re going to be able to do both of these things, but you’re going to have to give us some time because it takes time to put these kinds of transformational investments in place.”
While Senior Democrats say they are making progress on the talks, the framework remains unfinished and lawmakers are unlikely to see a final outcome at their caucus meeting, multiple sources say.
The standoff has left a signature element of President Joe Biden’s agenda in limbo and exposes divisions among Democrats over the breadth and scope of their agenda.
“We’re on track” to have a vote on Friday, Pelosi said upon entering the Capitol on Friday morning, although she told reporters it would be “helpful for us to have a conversation later today. “.
But when House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer was asked if there was a vote on Friday, he said, “We’ll see.”
Pelosi and Democratic leaders held a vote scheduled for Thursday on infrastructure legislation as negotiations continued with Senate moderates. Democratic leaders were hoping to secure a deal that would cost a total of $ 2.1 trillion, but Manchin stands firm on his $ 1.5 trillion turnover, less than half of what progressives want in the bill final.
Progressives have held firm on their demand to vote on the social spending bill ahead of the infrastructure legislation. They have repeatedly warned that they will sink the infrastructure bill if it is defeated before the social spending bill.
“We need a vote” rather than a framework agreement, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (DN.Y.) said as she walked to the caucus meeting.
The failure to pass an infrastructure bill on Thursday also temporarily puts funding for highways and mass transit off, as that day was the deadline for renewing surface transportation programs. Transportation Department employees could face time off if the programs are not reauthorized, although lawmakers have discussed a temporary extension of the programs that could quickly pass through both chambers.
Democrats, however, are still hoping that they can reach agreement on the broader framework on Friday and then pass a bipartisan infrastructure bill. Their objective is to reach agreement on the total cost of the legislation and some of its main provisions.
Pelosi, for her part, said the House would vote on the bill on Friday as she left the Capitol building just after midnight. “There will be a vote today,” she said.
Party leaders used a procedural maneuver to avoid starting a new legislative day – a nod to moderates who had wanted a vote on the legislation on Thursday.
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