President Joe Biden scrambles to unite Democrats on infrastructure bill

President Joe Biden spent his Thursday talking to key senators and Democratic leaders in Congress, trying to break an intra-party stalemate that threatens his entire domestic agenda.

But shortly before midnight, it was clear that neither Biden nor Democratic leaders in Congress had managed to broker a deal yet between a group of progressive House members and two moderate Democrats in the Senate, each of whom is refusing to vote in favor of the others’ priorities until their own goals are met first.

“A great deal of progress has been made this week, and we are closer to an agreement than ever,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement late Thursday. “But we are not there yet, and so, we will need some additional time to finish the work, starting tomorrow morning first thing.”

Biden’s schedule on Friday is open, much as it has been all this week. Psaki said Thursday that this is so the president can be available to congressional leaders and key stakeholders in the House and Senate throughout the day.

As House Speaker Nancy Pelosi left the Capitol just after midnight on Friday morning, she told reporters, “There will be a vote today,” meaning Friday.

For White House aides who had hoped for a last-minute breakthrough, Thursday’s postponed vote is a disappointment. The $500 billion infrastructure and jobs package is a pillar of Biden’s domestic agenda, and fulfills bedrock campaign promises he made.

But Thursday’s failure to launch isn’t really a death blow for the bill itself. Its benefits and costs will be felt by Americans for the next decade or more, so whether it passes the House on Friday, or next Monday or next Friday is immaterial.

With stakes so high, it’s little wonder the president has focused his energy almost entirely on Congress this week. On Monday and Tuesday, he hosted the two key senators, West Virginia’s Joe Manchin and Arizona’s Kyrsten Sinema, for one-on-one meetings at the White House.

A scheduled presidential trip to Chicago on Wednesday was called off at the last minute so that Biden could huddle at the White House with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, while his negotiators met with Sinema on the Hill.

On Thursday, again, much of Biden’s schedule was left open so he could participate in negotiations.

Pelosi and Biden have been trying to win support for the infrastructure bill among progressives, who say they will not vote for it unless the House is also ready to pass a sweeping budget reconciliation bill to expand the social safety net and climate policy.

But fundamental parts of that bill are still being debated in the Senate. House progressives are worried that if they vote to pass an infrastructure bill championed by moderates, they will lose any leverage they have in pushing these same moderates to back a transformative budget bill later on.

Progressives also insist that any budget reconciliation bill be at least $3 trillion, and include provisions like free preschool and community college, child-care subsidies and an expansion of Medicare to cover dental, vision and hearing care.

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[ericthomason]

The president who is supposed to unite the country can't even unite his own party?

[musaxcoco]

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
-George Orwell, 1984

[mlow]

Biden scrambles!? He can barely move without looking like he's going to fall over.

[stacimorellicressman]

And what about the 3.5 trillion bill that allows the IRS TO ACCESS ALL OF OUR BANK ACCOUNTS THAT HOLD OVER $600.00!

[ken]

If Jen Psaki’s lips are moving, she is lying.

[ZeroCool]

Is this what Biden was talking about when he stated he was going to unite the country.. LMAO!!! He meant just try to unite democrats.. LMAO!!!

[kc_]

"We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it."

[samwalton]

Joe is working on keeping Hunter out of the headlines!!

[ocmonman]

This admin just exudes failure over and over. Everyone knows it.

[gumpyofthebubba]

Joe is still working on changing his Depends at this hour . . . . .

[kimkass]

How can he unite any COUNTRY when he can't even UNITE HIS OWN

[samwalton]

Joe is working? On what? memory exercises? That’s funny!

[BigtimeAL]

Biden can’t scramble eggs let alone scramble to run a country.

[prestonwilliams]

Forgot to mention he got boo’d during the congressional baseball game. Worlds most famous fool.

[petergeorge]

It's a spending bill not an infrastructure bill.

[jimeagle]

DEMS FAILING HARD AND I LOVE IT !!!
Thanks
~Jim Eagle

[willdrucker]

Ahhhh…those upcoming midterms….Pelosi and Schumer shaking in their boots about now

[primashady]

LET'S BRING A REAL MAN BACK PRESIDENT TRUMP!

[tompastian]

Every American should have an "impeach Biden / Harris" sticker on your car. It's not going to get any better. Get those stickers now on ebay, before we have no country left.

[rumplestilt-skin]

Cho Xiden said that the only time he scrambles is when he has an accident in his pants.