Democratic leaders plan to vote next week on a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill they hope to send to President Joe Biden’s desk despite demands from their liberal base to postpone the legislation until Congress can pass a much larger social welfare spending measure.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters Tuesday the House will take up the infrastructure bill early next week, even though there is no deal yet on a second spending bill costing up to $3.5 trillion that would provide an array of new government programs and tax credits liberals are seeking.
Despite warnings from liberal Democrats, the infrastructure bill will go first, Hoyer confirmed.
LIBERALS FORCE HOUSE TO CUT ISRAEL DEFENSE FUNDING FROM SPENDING PACKAGE
“We are going to vote on it,” the Maryland Democrat told reporters on Tuesday, adding the vote would take place either on Sept. 27 or Sept. 28.
The liberal wing of the Democratic caucus warned it won’t vote for the infrastructure measure if it comes up first, which could leave Democratic leaders short of the votes needed to pass it without significant GOP support.
But top Democrats are eager to push ahead and try to pass the infrastructure plan so that President Joe Biden can sign it into law and showcase a major legislative victory for himself and the party.
Infrastructure spending enjoys significant public support and often wins bipartisan approval. The bill, part of Biden’s “Build Back Better” plan, was negotiated between the president and a group of Senate Republicans and Democrats.
The bill includes funding for roads, bridges, water projects, and expanded broadband.
The Senate passed the infrastructure bill with bipartisan support earlier this summer.
Biden has lately been battling sinking poll numbers following a bungled withdrawal from Afghanistan, a summer of rising COVID-19 cases, and rising inflation, among other problems.
He has urged Congress to pass the infrastructure bill and send it to his desk.
But Democrats have been unable to reach an agreement among themselves on the cost and policy changes included in the social welfare spending bill that they hoped would be considered alongside the infrastructure bill.
Democrats also disagree on how to raise taxes in order to pay for the big measure.
The bill aims to fund free universal preschool, free community college, paid family and medical leave, expanded Medicare benefits, more child tax credits, and much more.
Democratic leaders would not commit to a time frame for taking up the legislation, telling reporters House and Senate Democrats are still negotiating the details.
“We do not have a deadline,” Hoyer said. “But we want to move this as quickly as possible.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Tuesday the goal of party lawmakers is to keep both bills “moving forward.”
The New York Democrat said he has been meeting with centrist holdouts, including Joe Manchin of West Virginia, to come to an agreement on the $3.5 trillion proposal.
The legislation will not be ready for a vote by the 27th, which is when the House plans to take up the infrastructure package in defiance of liberals.
“No, I don’t even think, procedurally, we could get that done,” Schumer said.
Democratic leaders said they are counting on party lawmakers to remain unified around the goal of passing both bills, even if it means passing the infrastructure bill first in the House.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Hoyer and Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned House Democrats in a private meeting Tuesday that voting down the infrastructure bill will hurt the chances of finding an agreement on the larger spending package.
“I do not believe that voting against the infrastructure bill will make it more likely that somehow pressure will be put on passing the second component of the Build Back Better agenda,” Hoyer said. “That’s what I’m telling them.”
