Joe Biden, the Vice President of Social Spending Reconciliation for Build Back Better is expected to make an announcement this morning.
Biden is expected to tell Democrats today in a meeting that will bring them all aboard.
Most of the concessions that were made in recent days seemed to be towards Sen. Joe Manchin, D-WV (and Sen. Kyrsten sinema, D-AZ), trying to get them to agree to the deal. The Democrats would not have gotten a deal without their votes. As we have previously noted, they’ve cut the number which had originally been at $3.5 trillion back a lot to appease Manchin and they reportedly also dropped parts of the bill that he thought were going to break the bank, including paid family leave.
Here’s a little window into where they may be right now — this is similar to what we were already saying on the numbers.
Biden plans to tell Dems that he trusts that Manchin and Sinema will vote for $1.75T package — and they should too, per person briefed.
But there are up to 55 House progressives who are NO on the infrastructure bill right now without bill text or passage of larger bill, I’m told
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) October 28, 2021
They don’t yet have a score from the Congressional Budget Office on any of these issues, so it is only an estimate.
It is important to ask how much of the junk that remains in these places is actually harmful. We have already stated that there was much more to it than the cost tag.
The other thing is even if Biden thinks they have a deal if they’ve come together with Manchin and Sinema, it remains to be seen if all the moderates agree and if they can get the progressives on board. On the basis of the agreement framework, they want progressives to support the bipartisan infrastructure legislation and vote in favor of it this week. Will they agree with this timing? Some are also still agitating over the provisions that moderates might have compelled out of the bill like paid vacation.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Democratic-Washington’s chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus has stated that a framework won’t be sufficient to win their support for infrastructure. However, it remains to see if they’ll get their support on infrastructure and this framework.
AOC declares she will vote NO on the infrastructure bill if it comes up for a vote tomorrow. “I’m unsure how ethically I can vote for increased U.S. emissions.”
A “framework” does not suffice for larger bills; it is necessary to have detailed text.
We have had a framework for six month. Text is needed. pic.twitter.com/adFsbGl7h4
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) October 27, 2021
According to CNN’s Manu Raju, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has told the House progressives he backs their position against moving ahead with the infrastructure bill until the larger economic package moves through the House at the same time,
New – In a key sign of the challenges facing Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders told House progressives he backs their position against moving ahead with the infrastructure bill until the larger economic package moves through the House at the same time, per two sources
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) October 28, 2021
They will be able announce that they have an agreement here. It doesn’t exactly sound like they’re there if the progressives are still objecting to the timing.
The liberal anger towards progressives will change if they don’t vote for infrastructure.
Grab your popcorn and hold on tight!
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