During a closed-door lunch, Biden encouraged the Democratic caucus to be ambitious on both the bipartisan physical infrastructure package and a larger $3.5 trillion social spending package
President Joe Biden returned to the Senate on Wednesday to celebrate clinching a budget deal with Democrats, though it’s just the beginning of a long process that will test his prowess with his former colleagues.
Biden “understands this is a process,” said Sen. Cory Booker in an interview. But the president is “rightfully confident in our ability to get something over the line.” “There's still a lot to learn about the budget committee process,” said Sen. Chris Murphy “I certainly haven't committed to vote for it yet. The bipartisan package to me is too slim on some of the accounts that matter in Connecticut when it comes to rebuilding our infrastructure. But we have a chance, I don’t think we have a choice to fail here.”
Biden pointed to polling that showed support for both the bipartisan infrastructure plan and his care-economy plans that would go through the reconciliation process. In particular, he said that the polling shows that asking corporations and the wealthiest individuals to fund Democrats’ plans was "hitting home in a big way" with voters, the source added.
Schumer, Sanders and Sen. Mark Warner —who helped negotiate the budget package with Sanders—briefed their colleagues during the lunch, laying out their plans to plow trillions into green energy and climate resiliency, expand universal pre-k schooling and paid leave, and extend the child tax credit past its year-end expiration date.
But Biden did make clear that all Senate Democrats need to be on board, making sure to thank the entire caucus for its work so far in assisting his agenda, said Sen. Elizabeth Warren . Manchin said after the lunch that Biden “did a very good job, very respectful.”
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