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Instead, they hope the prospect of a gradual revolt will only add to the pressure they are trying to put on the Senses. line reconciliation invoice. Two sources familiar with White House messages to progressives said officials have made it clear to them that they are not unhappy with any talk about voting against the infrastructure package.
“I think it’s good to have a drama around this because it isolates the people who stand in the way for no good reason other than some kind of austerity political mindset that when you’re in a time of crisis , just doesn’t make sense. post “said Heather Gautney, former Sanders Senior Advisor.
“We made a deal and I think they just have to keep hammering it because the tradition is to paint the Progressive as stubborn and wanting to spend too much money and that’s just absurd at this point – especially with Biden where he’s on all of that, ”Gautney added.
Ultimately, the White House wants to see the infrastructure bill passed when he’s awake. But the idea that she would be comfortable with an effort by part of her own party to delay and question one of the president’s most important initiatives would have been unheard of in previous administrations. These are not normal times, however. And this is hardly a normal legislative timetable.
Biden and his top aides are desperately trying to come to an agreement on the reconciliation plan with the two moderate Democrats. But Manchin and Sinema not only resisted overtures, both were evasive about the framework and the price they would accept for the $ 3.5 trillion social and climate spending plan.
Without any material commitment from their moderate counterparts, House progressives have vowed to derail the bipartisan infrastructure package, believing that if passed they would remove any leverage they still had to secure passage. of the reconciliation bill. They argue that both plans are part of Biden’s economic agenda – a point the White House has also increasingly echoed in public statements.
The White House is convinced that the progressives’ end goal is always aligned with theirs and sees the pressure they exert as ultimately useful rather than harmful.
“We want to know what will be in an invoice, especially if it will cost less than $ 3.5 [trillion]”said Representative Chuy García (D-Ill.).” The delay is not with the progressives, because we have held our position throughout. It was the moderates who slowed and delayed this.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki appeared respectful of progressives in the briefing room on Wednesday when asked about the status of negotiations.
“[M]Members of the Progressive Caucus want to have an understanding of the way forward on the reconciliation package, ”Psaki said. “They said it publicly. You know why? Because they believe this is a historic progressive agenda that will bring bold changes in the fight against our climate crisis, lowering costs for the American people, bringing more women back into the workplace. “
Progressives, meanwhile, have been careful to point out in their public comments that the package they want to push forward is Biden’s agenda, and they’re just making sure everything gets through Congress. And while some on the left complained about the lack of communication between the White House and the progressives, an aide to Sanders said the senator was in regular contact with the two top White House officials and top officials from the Biden administration.
“It’s constant communication with everyone,” the assistant said.
Sanders did not notify the White House before his tweet on Tuesday insisting no “the infrastructure bill is expected to pass without a $ 3.5 trillion reconciliation bill. But the president’s team was aware of his position, an aide said.
A point that several progressives have raised in the interviews is that moderate intransigence on the social spending package will only harm moderates in addition to the party as a whole. Indeed, if Biden’s entire agenda crumbles on the deadlock of the two bills, progressives are extremely less likely to suffer politically given that most represent secure seats, while many moderates hold positions. swing districts.
“It will be the moderates who will suffer. We will lose the moderates if we run on an issue that is not attractive enough to voters, ”said centrist Third Way Matt Bennett in a neutral tone. “And we’ve been very clear, with the vast majority of moderate Democrats, including the president, that reconciliation is absolutely vital. It is important that we face all of these crises, including climate change, with something real. And I think we would agree that the infrastructure bill is necessary but not quite sufficient.
While progressives continue to argue for double-tracking the two bills, some close allies of Biden and moderate Democrats fear tarnishing the infrastructure component in politically damaging ways. It’s a proposal the party is still considering running for midterm, and there are fears it might have less impact if Democratic lawmakers themselves downplay it.
“These are powerful images – the commemorative helmets and the golden shovels. These visuals are in solid gold. They are great for television. This may be the only thing saving our bacon in 2022, ”said Colin Strother, a Democratic strategist in Texas who works with moderates and regularly clashes with progressive activists. “A bowl full of rice does wonders for your survey, as many countries will tell you. Biden needs this victory. He really, really needs this victory.
Strother said the lack of a breakthrough in Washington presented a problem for Democrats as well, sparking anxiety elsewhere in the country and raising doubts about whether Biden could actually use his power to bring together lawmakers across the country. left. It is not just Manchin and Sinema who need to be warned, he said, it is also the progressives in the House.
“I am not convinced that the White House is particularly effective. How many times can we go to the White House for tea? Strother added. “Right now everyone has their arms crossed over their chest and the lower lip sticks out. We need to be in some of these progressive districts to discuss the infrastructure bill and what it will do and how many jobs it will create. We need to include them in our program.
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