Congressional progressives are balking at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) push to pass the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill on Thursday.
The White House unveiled the framework for a $1.75 trillion spending package which progressives are hoping to pass along with the infrastructure bill, as IJR reported. Shortly after the framework was unveiled, Pelosi said she wanted to hold a vote on the infrastructure bill.
However, progressives have insisted that both bills move through Congress together and rejected the push to vote on the infrastructure bill without the larger social spending package.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the chair of the House Progressive Caucus, said, “There are too many no votes for the [infrastructure bill] to pass today.”
“What we’re saying is we can’t vote for the [infrastructure bill] today,” she added.
.@RepJayapal: “There are too many no votes for the BIF to pass today.”
— John Bresnahan (@bresreports) October 28, 2021
/3 Jayapal: “What we’re saying is we can’t vote for the BIF today.” She commits to staying in town “as long as it takes.”
— John Bresnahan (@bresreports) October 28, 2021
Meanwhile, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) tweeted, “We have been clear since April: we will pass the bipartisan infrastructure once we vote a Build Back Better Act to help our communities.”
We have been clear since April: we will pass the bipartisan infrastructure once we vote a Build Back Better Act to help our communities.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) October 28, 2021
That has not changed. No vote on infrastructure until we vote on reconciliation.
Additionally, some Senate Democrats expressed support for House progressives’ stance on the vote.
I support @RepJayapal and House Progressives—both infrastructure and #BuildBackBetter move together. https://t.co/g9RlGJwy3Z
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) October 28, 2021
Reiterating what he said earlier today, he said: “I think the House of Representatives has a right to know before that they sign off on the infrastructure bill that the 50 Senators are prepared to support a strong reconciliation.”
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) October 28, 2021
Democrats have a slim majority in the House, and Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich reports that “[9] House Dems are considered ‘hard no,’ pledging to vote down [infrastructure bill] if it comes up for a vote.”
Additionally, there are reportedly 10 Republicans who are expected to vote for the bill.
Pelosi is “working” the hard no Dem members, hoping the reconciliation framework is enough to persuade them.
— Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) October 28, 2021
R’s would cover the difference, but could be very close. It’s going to come down to whether Pelosi pulls the trigger on a risky vote…
If nine Democrats voted against it and 10 Republicans voted for it, the bill would narrowly pass the chamber.
Pelosi reportedly told Democrats not to “embarrass” President Joe Biden by voting down the infrastructure bill.
However, at the end of a press conference on Thursday, she did not say whether she still plans to hold a vote as progressives have voiced their opposition to it.