White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki is taking aim at House Republicans for not supporting a roughly $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package.
On Friday, Psaki said, “They have chosen to be influenced by whether it’s pharmaceutical companies or other special interests or just to be strong-armed by their leadership not to support legislation that many including members of the Problem Solvers Caucus suggested they may.”
“So, it just requires a majority to support legislation in Congress, and we haven’t seen any real courage from the Republican side in the House,” she added.
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“We haven’t seen any real courage from the Republican side in the House.”
— The Recount (@therecount) October 1, 2021
— WH Press Sec. Jen Psaki on infrastructure bill delay pic.twitter.com/qXUQ2xMl41
Psaki’s comments come after the House once again postponed a vote on a roughly $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package as moderates and progressives failed to reach a deal on a separate $3.5 trillion spending package.
Progressives have demanded that Congress pass the larger spending package, and have threatened to sink the infrastructure bill unless the two pieces of legislation are both passed.
Last week, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) signaled that at least 48 Democrats would vote against the infrastructure bill unless it was accompanied by the spending back.
“When progressive senators passed the bipartisan bill in the Senate, it was on the specific understanding and commitment that both bills would move together,” she said, adding, “And so now, we want to make sure that both bills are moving together, and we’re going to hold to that commitment. And so yes, half our members, more than half our members, will not move the bipartisan bill without the reconciliation bill being passed.”
Without Republican votes, that would sink the bill in the House.
However, House Republican leaders are urging their members against voting for the bill.