House Dems delay huge social bill, plan infrastructure vote

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — Top Democrats abruptly postponed an expected House vote Friday on a 10-year, $1.85 trillion social and environment measure, as leaders’ long struggle to balance demands from progressives and moderates once again dogged the pillar of President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda.

In a bid to hand him a needed victory, leaders prepared to try pushing an accompanying $1 trillion package of road and other infrastructure projects through the chamber and to his desk.

With lawmakers set to leave town for a week’s break, the scrambled legislative plans cast a fresh pall over a party that has tried futilely for weeks to find middle ground on its massive package of health, education, family and climate change initiatives. That’s been hard, in part because the Democrats’ slender majorities mean they need the support of every Senate Democrat and can have no more than three defectors in the House.

The party’s congressional leaders had hoped for House approval of both that measure and the infrastructure bill on Friday. That would have produced twin triumphs for a president and party eager to rebound from this week’s deflating off-year elections and show they can govern.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/climate-immigration-joe-biden-business-health-da0c5847fe7f3a846ca076c214bb0c79

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Just heard on the radio.

[Hoyt]

1. Time to pass the Bipartisan Bill, get a win. Then, concentrate on BBB. This leverage junk is BS.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. That's the problem

One side won't pass the BIB unless the BBB is passed and vice versa.

[Hoyt]

6. +1. Time for that side to wise up. Linking didn't sound right first time I heard it. And the public

negotiating -- WITHIN the party -- should have been shut down long ago.

[George II]

10. I may be proven wrong, but I've NEVER seen passage of one bill dependent upon another, and....

....they're BOTH sponsored by the same party!!

[SharonAnn]

22. Because Manchin wants the Infrastructure got but not the other.

[BumRushDaShow]

13. Well the reconcilation takes care of 2 things

the FY2022 budget for the entire federal government AND the spending designated for the infrastructure bill. They need to have a budget to help guide federal appropriations either before or once the C.R. expires in December (whether those appropriations bills are done as a huge Omnibus FY22 bill or as several "minibuses" ). I doubt they would be able to extend the C.R. without all kinds of drama.

[George II]

8. One "side" is willing to pass the BIF. It's ready today. Not those to blame for delaying it.

[BumRushDaShow]

15. The reconciliation represents what will be the federal FY22 budget

it's not just for infrastructure (it is basically a "conference report" to designate spending and/or revenue-generators (like taxes) and/or a debt ceiling increase). So it is drafted to be more comprehensive than just "infrastructure".

I think the concern was that should the BIB get passed without a concrete promise of something from the reconciliation, most of the stuff will be stripped from the BBB (as well as any tax changes) mostly leaving what is expected for running the federal government in general.

They could technically do a separate "revenue" (tax) reconciliation as long as those provisions aren't in any other reconciliation bill like the spending one directed for infrastructure and other things (and they can only use each "type" once each FY).

[Budi]

5. Should have grabbed that opportunity when the Senate voted Yes two months ago.

But...NOPE. NOPE. NOPE

Cuz having nothing was by far better than having something., so they declared.

[wryter2000]

30. How do you know the BBB isn't dead

We have no leverage over Manchin, Sinema, and other moderates now. If you’re happy with what we have now, fine. But let’s not pretend we’re going to get anything else.

[Hoyt]

31. How do you know it is dead? I believe BBB will pass at $1.5 - $2.0 Trillion as soon as CBO

report is issued, assuming the report indicates it's paid for. If not, then tweaking will be necessary.

Hopefully, the Congresspeople who initiated the foolish linking will step back.

[wryter2000]

32. Why on earth will Manchin and Sinema vote for it?

Have they suddenly had a change of heart?

[Hoyt]

33. You are right. We are doomed because the Linking BS didn't work. Just wait and see what happens.

[George II]

4. Everyone is on board with the BIF. Let's get it passed TODAY!

[Budi]

7. Well. We'll soon see who's still demanding "nothing over something!"

Two months later...👎

[greenjar_01]

9. What a shit show

[Budi]

12. Yup. As was always intended. "VICTORY"!!

[doc03]

11. This is the same breaking news we have heard for

2 months.

[SoCalNative]

14. Why does congress get so many breaks?

They should receive the same guaranteed time off that the rest of the population does, which is 0 days/weeks.

[BumRushDaShow]

20. Veteran's Day (November 11 - originally "Armistice Day" ) is next week

so they usually "take off" with respect to actual Congressional business during those federal holiday weeks so they can carry out what they call "District Work Periods". I.e., they don't just go off "on vacation". They actually return to their home districts and meet with constituents or attend ribbon cuttings, and give speeches as guests speakers, and fund-raise, etc.

[Igel]

21. A lot of us get guaranteed time off.

It's known as a "contract."

Congressfolk often spend time on recess in their districts, doing "work" there. Sometimes meetings with constituents, sometimes fund raising, sometimes public preening, but something that Congressfolk deem "work."

[marie999]

23. They need the time off to talk to their constituents and to raise money for the next election.

Politicians' real job is to get reelected.

[nitpicker]

16. Ostensibly, it's to go back to the district

And provide "constituent services".

((PSST- in exchange for fundraising, of course.))

[nitpicker]

17. And once again the NDAA vote gets postponed

I hope it's done by 3 Dec, or else DoD will have to get creative about how to fund itself.

[H2Oart]

18. I think

I think this delay is going to completely backfire on many progressives in the house. Sorry to say, but your stalling is just fuel for the republican fire that’s not too far away. Pass the bills, separate or together, but pass the fucking things and allow the country to see how this will help them. Your total disregard for this upcoming midterm election is quite detrimental to this country and our party, not to mention that the Jan 6 commission will be snuffed out the day the house turns over. It’s not too late to keep our party in power. Passing these two landmark bills will in my opinion be extremely helpful in a rise in popularity and positioning.

These are my own opinions.

[Javaman]

19. this infrastructure bill was a Dem win on a silver platter that would be historic

and be a massive boost for every Dem senator and rep; even for the likes of manchin and sinema.

and yet it's turned into a shitshow before our eyes because of the above people mentioned.

and now, we are faced with a watered down version that won't hold the rich accountable and more importantly, had the climate change part stripped out because of manchin (people in his own state overwhelmingly wanted that part).

the world is dying, 10 years from now we won't recognize it anymore, and we allow wanton greed to continue to rule over us.

[manicdem]

24. No where close to passing

I'm guessing that despite what everyone and the media says, both bills are nowhere close to passing. Probably look at passing it next year.

We still have the debt limit and continuing resolution deadlines that are fast approaching again and the repubs aren't going to vote for either. Going to be another bloodbath again.

[JohnSJ]

27. I hear Ted Koppelis coming back because of his experience with the Iran hostage ordeal to

start a new series, the budget infrastructure ordeal day 180

[Bayard]

29. I have to agree with the article

"a party that has tried futilely for weeks to find middle ground". Its like herding cats, while rethuglicans fall in line with the major agenda like good soldiers. Good on the ones who broke ranks and voted for this bill. I didn't think any could think for themselves.

The in-fighting has got to stop if there's to be any hope of accomplishment and re-election.