Senate gears up for multi-day infrastructure work

The Senate is bracing for multi-day infrastructure work that is expected to continue early next week, after hopes for a quick deal collapsed.

Senators, according to the chamber’s schedule, are expected to begin their week-long August vacation, and leave town until mid-September. Instead, they’ll return on Saturday for the start of a long, two-part infrastructure fight.

Unless all 100 senators agree to speed up the process, the debate could keep the Senate in session until next week as it attempts to pass a bipartisan infrastructure bill of around 1,000. billion dollars and that Democrats seek to pass a $ 3.5 trillion budget resolution.

“I plan to be here until Wednesday,” the senator said. John kennedyJohn Neely KennedyPLUS (R-La.), While adding “never estimate” the vapors of the summer jets.

Spirits erupted Thursday night as leaders attempted to stage a marathon of votes on between 16 and 25 potential changes to the bill, followed by a vote to pass bipartisan legislation and send it to the House.

It proved impossible to get all senators to agree on a process, a setback which visibly frustrated some supporters of the bill.

To get the infrastructure bill back on track, the Senate Majority Leader Charles schumerChuck SchumerSusan Collins’ persistent bipartisanship clock Senate set to postpone vacation until it acts on voting rights Democratic senators step up pressure to declassify 9/11 documents linked to Saudi role in attacks MORE (DN.Y.) called a vote for 1 p.m. on Saturday to begin closing the debate. To overcome the obstacle, he will need 60 votes.

Seventeen Republicans have helped push the deal forward so far; Senator Mike RondeMike Rounds New Barrier Slows Trillion Infrastructure Bill GOP Senate Focuses on Tackling Biden 500 Billion Budget Seven-figure ad campaign urges GOP to support Bill PLUS infrastructure (RS.D.), which missed the previous votes, is also in favor. If every Democrat votes to start ending debate on Saturday, supporters will need at least 10 Republicans to end debate.

His. John ThuneJohn Randolph ThuneSchumer decides to end debate on Infrastructure Bill T Senate in talks to quickly pass Infrastructure Bill Senate GOP set to give Biden a huge political victory MORE (SD) Republican Senator No.2 predicted that the infrastructure bill, which he has voted against so far, will eventually overcome the procedural hurdle and pass.

“I always operate assuming there are the votes to pass it. I just think it’s now a matter of timing, ”Thune told The Hill.

None of the 18 Republicans said they would vote “no” in Saturday’s key vote. But some are seen as potential flips and others including GOP Leader Mitch mcconnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSusan Collins’ Persistent Biparty Clock On The Money: Senate Talks To Swiftly Pass Infrastructure Bill | CBO says bill would add $ 6 billion to debt over 10 years CBO says bipartisan infrastructure bill would add $ 6 billion to deficit over 10 years MORE (Ky.), Expressed support, suggesting that they are not stuck in one position.

McConnell also warned ahead of the amendments collapse that Republicans still wanted more votes, telling reporters, “We still have amendments that need to be dealt with. Once they are, we can calm things down.

Policy advisers said a subset of the bill’s potential changes could still get a vote, as they are relevant to the approximately $ 1,000 billion bipartisan bill. This, according to Thune, would include two conflicting amendments on a cryptocurrency tax that pitted the White House against the chairman of the Senate finance committee. Ron WydenRonald (Ron) Lee WydenSchumer decides to close debate on T-infrastructure bill The job to protect journalists is not done. (Golden.).

Senate advisers separately indicated on Friday that behind-the-scenes talks were underway and could lead to votes on additional amendments. For example, Sens. John cornynJohn CornynHillicon Valley: Federal Cyber ​​Agency Launches Efforts to Defend the United States Against Cyber ​​Attacks | Senators Introduce Bill to Punish Countries Linked to Ransomware Attacks | Amazon Pushes Reopening of Overnight Defense Firms: Biden Faces Democrat Pressure to Downsize Guantánamo Bay On The Money: Senate Talks To Swiftly Pass Infrastructure Bill | CBO says bill would add $ 6 billion to debt in 10 years (R-Texas) and Alex PadillaAlex PadillaCornyn Reaches White House Deal on COVID-19 Money for Infrastructure Senate Democrats unveil bill to protect election officials and prevent election subversion White House tries to push back bipartisan amendment on Cornyn PLUS infrastructures (D-Calif.) Are pushing for a vote on an amendment that would allow states to use some unspent COVID-19 relief funds for infrastructure projects.

Not getting 60 votes on Saturday would plunge the Senate and a key part of Biden’s agenda into chaos. If the infrastructure bill can overcome Saturday’s hurdle, however, it is largely on track to final passage through the Senate.

However, it could take the legislative equivalent of the scenic route.

Under Senate rules, opponents could ask the chamber to run the clock for up to 60 hours before they could proceed to a final vote. If they hang around this long, it could delay passage of the bipartisan agreement until Tuesday morning.

Republicans expect some members of their conference to want to eat all the time, unless they change their mind after Saturday’s hurdle.

“I think they will insist that we use the whole debate,” the senator said. Roy BluntRoy Dean BluntBiden signs a bill awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the Jan. 6 officers. Missouri Representative Billy Long Enters Graham GOP’s COVID-19 ‘Breakthrough’ Case in Senate MORE (R-Mo.), Member of the management.

Thune admitted that there are Senate Republicans “who want to use it all”.

“There will be a time when everything becomes clearer. … And then we’ll see from there what people’s appetite is to stay on the bill, ”Thune said. “I think giving everyone a day off, or a day to regroup and everyone to calm down a bit is probably a good thing.”

One of the reasons Senators were hoping to speed up consideration of the bipartisan deal – beyond attracting the August annual recess – is that they must also grapple with a long debate over the budget resolution of the United Nations. democrats.

Democrats are able to pass the budget resolution, which sets the stage for their $ 3.5 trillion spending plan later this year, without GOP support as long as their 50 members remain unified.

But to get to their endgame, they first have to face 50 hours of debate and a marathon session known as vote-a-rama, where any senator can force a vote on anything they want. wants. The sessions, which typically run through the night and into the morning, are prime fodder for the kind of political message votes both sides hope to use against each other before the 2022 midterm. .

“We will defeat all poison pill amendments”, chairman of the Senate budget committee Bernie sandersBernie SandersJeffries: Shontel Brown win in Ohio proves anti-establishment line of attack is ‘lame’ (I-Vt.) Spoke to reporters about Democratic strategy, promising to pass the “most important piece of legislation” in recent history.

Republicans predict a long and painful process that could equal Senate records for the number of votes cast in previous similar marathon sessions.

Cornyn said he expected around 40 amendment votes. Votes in the Senate, which can take place quickly, can take about 30 minutes, or even significantly longer.

“I think there will be a pretty good appetite for a lot of the votes, but I hope we don’t start at six in the evening,” he said.

Kennedy predicted that there would be “enough amendments to the vote-a-rama to trigger your gag reflex.”