The US Senate voted to advance a bipartisan infrastructure bill, but progressive lawmakers threatened to block its passage unless it is accompanied by a reconciliation package addressing healthcare, housing, and climate action.
As the United States Senate on Saturday voted to advance a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package, progressive lawmakers warned that they will not vote for the proposed legislation if lawmakers don't also adequately fund human needs such as healthcare, housing, and climate action. 'If the bipartisan bill isn't passed with a reconciliation package that has our popular priorities, we're not voting for it.' --Rep.
Pramila Jayapal Saturday's 67-27 Senate cloture vote on the 2,700-page Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (pdf) overcame a major barrier to the measure's passage, although it was unclear when the Senate would hold a final vote on the bill. 'We can get this done the easy way or the hard way,' Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on the Senate floor before the vote. 'In either case, the Senate will stay in session until we finish our work. It's up to my Republican colleagues how long it takes.' The deal--which falls short of the $2.25 trillion originally proposed in President Joe Biden's American Jobs Plan, and is far less than the $10 trillion that progressives say should be spent--includes $550 billion in new infrastructure funding, including for roads and bridges, public transport, railways, broadband internet, port and airport upgrades, power and water system improvements, and environmental remediation. Notably absent from the deal are progressive agenda items including a 7% corporate tax hike, Medicaid expansion, workforce development, and, critically, measures to address the climate crisis. Biden took to Twitter Saturday to tout the deal: Addressing the bill's climate shortcomings, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse tweeted Saturday that 'the plan is to get this bill passed and focus on the reconciliation package next. That's where the big climate provisions will be.' Democrats plan to use the reconciliation process to thwart a Republican filibuster of $
INFRASTRUCTURE BIPARTISANSHIP PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS RECONCILIATION CLIMATE CHANGE
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