New obstacle slows down $ 1 trillion infrastructure bill

Senate action on a $ 1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill has slowed at a breakneck pace as lawmakers haggle over more than 250 proposed legislative amendments.

In many cases, senators hold their colleagues’ amendments hostage by opposing their votes unless their own priorities are also guaranteed to get a vote.

But with nearly 300 amendments tabled, not everyone will get the proposed changes to the legislation on the Senate floor, fueling the frustrations of senators on both sides of the aisle.

Senators say they expect the bipartisan package to go through a final round of votes as early as this weekend. But the timing will depend on whether Republican senators, in particular, feel they have had enough luck in making changes to the legislation.

His. Jon TesterJonathan (Jon) TesterGraham’s COVID-19 case shakes Senate this week: Senate begins sprint on infrastructure Senators introduce bipartisan infrastructure bill in rare Sunday session MORE (D-Mont.), One of the main negotiators of the bipartite agreement, complained that the package is not moving “fast enough”.

“There are people who have amendments that they really shouldn’t be,” he said. “Vote for or against. Churn and burn, baby.

The tester said at this point “it will probably be Saturday” before there is a vote on the final pass.

“I think we are on the right track,” he said.

The legislation as introduced would provide $ 110 billion for roads, bridges and major projects, $ 66 billion for passenger and freight rail transport, $ 39 billion for mass transit, 65 billion dollars for broadband and 55 billion dollars for water infrastructure, among other provisions.

Senators tabled 281 amendments to the infrastructure package at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

His. Mike leeMichael (Mike) Shumway Lee This week: Senate kicks off infrastructure sprint Senators introduce bipartisan infrastructure bill in rare Sunday session Biden’s bipartisan deal faces Senate challenge MORE (R-Utah) proposed 35 amendments, while Sen. Roger osierRoger Frederick WickerGOP Skepticism Hovers Over Biparty Spending Deal Here is proof that the Senate confirmation process has broken down. (Miss.), The Republican ranked on the Senate Commerce Committee, offered 16. Sen. Marsha blackburnMarsha Blackburn McCarthy jokes that it will be hard not to ‘hit’ Pelosi with a hammer if it is President Biden’s bipartisan deal in the face of Senate challenge Biden officials pledge to meet the challenges of the cybersecurity PLUS (R-Tenn.) Had offered 23 Tuesday afternoon.

Lee and Blackburn are not expected to vote in favor of the final bill, but Wicker is among a group of Republicans on whether to vote to overcome a filibuster and prepare the legislation for final adoption.

Wicker proposed giving tax credits to issuers of infrastructure bonds, increasing credits for Navy and Coast Guard shipyard infrastructure, with language removing a section allowing the sale of some spectrum ban and an amendment banning the regulation of broadband tariffs.

Lee proposed a 126-page replacement amendment that would have repealed so-called Davis-Bacon wage requirements requiring federal contractors to pay workers and mechanics at least locally prevailing wages. It would also reduce the federal gasoline tax by more than 11 cents a gallon.

Senators on both sides of the aisle teamed up to defeat the amendment with a resounding vote of 20-78. If it had passed, the entire bipartisan deal would have collapsed under Democratic opposition.

His. Thom tillisThomas (Thom) Roland Tillis Seven-figure advertising campaign urges GOP to support infrastructure bill (RN.C.), a member of the group of 22 senators who supported the bipartisan negotiations that resulted in the trillion dollar infrastructure bill, said he would vote to reject any amendment that disrupted the compromise carefully crafted.

“For my part, I will maintain the integrity of the baseline,” he said. “I have told many of my colleagues that I might be able to vote against some of the amendments, not because I disagree with the policy, but if it [doesn’t] fit into the negotiations in which I and my staff have been involved.

After two days of voting on Monday and Tuesday, the Senate had only dealt with seven amendments, scuttling the possibility of concluding the bill before some senators consider leaving town to attend a memorial service for the late senator. Mike EnziMichael (Mike) Bradley EnziOn The Money: Biden and Pelosi Fight End of Deportation Ban | Trump lawyer says he will fight against release of tax returns McConnell warns Democrats of ‘artificial timeline’ for infrastructure deal The Hill’s Morning Report – Brought to you by Facebook – Time is running out for a bipartite plan; first hearing on January 6 today PLUS (R) in Wyoming on Friday.

His. Mike RondeMike Rounds Seven-Digit Ad Campaign Urges GOP to Support Infrastructure Bill Graham’s COVID-19 ‘Breakthrough’ Case Shakes White House Senate Cyber ​​Chief Supports New Federal Office to Track Threats MORE (RS.D.) said some colleagues were suspending votes in order to gain more weight for their own amendments.

“I know there are several takes on our side,” he said. “I suspect there are a few on the other side as well.”

Rounds, who is also a member of the Group of 22, has said he would like to make some changes to the bill, but for now the moderates are focused on preserving the bipartisan legislation that was unveiled on Sunday.

“At this point in the game, we’re doing as much defense on some poison pill amendments as we are,” pushing for amendments, Rounds said.

Leader of the minority in the Senate Mitch mcconnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell Overnight healthcare: Florida becomes epicenter of COVID-19 outbreak | NYC To Require Vaccination For Indoor Activities | Biden chastises GOP governors for banning mask mandates McConnell warns Schumer quickly disrupting debate could block infrastructure deal. (R-Ky.) On Tuesday reiterated his warning to Democrats not to rush the amendment process.

“The best way to pass this infrastructure bill is not to try to table a fence today and to speed up the process,” he said, citing the possibility of a vote on a procedural motion to move to a final ascending or descending vote.

“This is an extremely important bipartisan bill. Chances are this is a bipartisan achievement for the country and trying to truncate an amendment process on something of this magnitude is, I think, a mistake, ”McConnell added.

Majority leader in the Senate Charles SchumerChuck Schumer ‘The Squad’ Celebrates Moratorium on Biden Evictions Overnight Healthcare: Florida Becomes Epicenter of COVID-19 Outbreak | NYC to Require Vaccination for Indoor Activities | Biden berates GOP governors for banning masks National Organization for Women calls for Cuomo’s resignation MORE (DN.Y.) said Republicans were cooperating to move the bill forward, at least so far.

“We are working well with Republicans on the amendments. Obviously, you need full support to propose amendments to the assembly. So far and hopefully to continue it will work, ”he said.

Schumer said he would keep the bill on the ground until passed, even if it infringes on the August vacation, which was due to start on Friday but will now be delayed by at least a week .

“We’re going to stay here as long as it takes to get there. Period, ”he said.