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Category: Pure Politics

House to Start Debate on Infrastructure Bill Today

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After nonstop negotiations with different factions of her own party late last week and through the weekend, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) scheduled the floor debate on the bipartisan infrastructure package f to start today.

The House leadership finds itself in a tough spot, as a group of Democratic progressives have insisted that they would not vote for the infrastructure legislation that was passed by the Senate on a bipartisan basis without a commitment to bring up a larger $3.5-trillion budget reconciliation package.  At the same time, a group of moderates have  balked at the size of the reconciliation package while supporting the infrastructure deal.  Progressives fear that moderates will walk away from the larger bill if they get to vote on the infrastructure package first.  Pelosi had earlier committed to bringing up the $1.5-trillion infrastructure bill for a floor vote today.  Vote to pass the bill, assuming there are enough votes, is currently scheduled for Thursday.

Read more about the situation here and here.

House Passes CR But Debt Ceiling Remains Uncertain

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As expected, the House passed yesterday by a vote of 220 – 211 the continuing resolution package that would keep the government funded through December 3 while also lifting the debt ceiling through mid-December, 2022.  Like most of their Senate counterparts, House Republicans voiced strong opposition to the lifting of the debt ceiling and voted against the measure.

In the Senate, where there is a 50 – 50 split between the parties, it remains to be seen how Democrats will address the debt ceiling issue.

Read more about the situation here and here.

Continuing Resolution Introduced

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With FY2022 scheduled to start October 1 and no funding bills yet signed into law, a continuing resolution (CR) that would keep the government funded through December 3 has been unveiled.  It also includes a host of “anomalies,” minor changes and corrections that are needed to ensure that no major changes in federal programs are created while the government functions under a CR.

In addition to keeping the government’s doors open through the first two months of FY2022, the CR would provide emergency funds to address the damage caused by recent floods and wildfires and to fund the costs associated with Afghan refugees.

The most partisan provision of the CR is the proposed lifting of the debt limit to December, 2022.  Congressional Republicans have publicly stated that while they will vote to support other parts of the legislative, they will not support the lifting of the debt limit, creating a level of uncertainty.

The text of the CR is available here and a corresponding summary is available  here.

We will provide updates.

Senate Passes Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill

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The Senate voted 69-30 to pass a $1 trillion, bipartisan, infrastructure bill. The legislation includes numerous provisions for rail, roads, water pipes, ports, combatting pollution, and electric vehicle charging stations among other things. Read more here. The bill now heads to the House, which is in recess until the end of the month.

And coming up- Democrats are expected to use the reconciliation process to pass their “human infrastructure” agenda. Many House progressives say they will not send the bipartisan infrastructure bill to the President’s desk without the human infrastructure component. This is slated to include more education-related provisions, childcare, and a path to citizenship for DREAMERS, as well as a deficit reduction. However, the rules of reconciliation are very narrow, so it’s very possible not everything will make it through.

Deal Reached on an Infrastructure Package

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Today the White House announced a deal has been reached with the Administration and a group of bipartisan Senators on the outline of a $1 trillion (including approx. $579 billion new spending) traditional infrastructure package. These priorities include roads, bridges, public transit, electric vehicles, coastal infrastructure, rural broadband access, and supporting IRS tax collection efforts on high earners. The legislation must still be written and pass both chambers.

Calls from within the Democratic caucus for a “human” infrastructure package- addressing paid leave, childcare, housing, and community college, is likely to go through the budget reconciliation process in a similar manner to the American Rescue Plan Act. The President indicated he would want to see both pieces of legislation arrive on his desk together.

Read more here.