Pelosi plans to hold House vote on infrastructure bill today following setback – live




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A bitterly divided Democratic party was set to resume talks on Joe Biden’s legislative agenda on Friday with progressives confident they are gaining momentum and centrists apparently on the back foot.

A vote on the $1tn bipartisan infrastructure bill was delayed late on Thursday night despite a promise by the House of Representatives speaker, Nancy Pelosi, to centrists that she would bring it to the floor.

The move represented a victory for progressives who stood firm in warning that they would vote against the bill unless they get a firm commitment that Biden’s $3.5tn social and environmental package will also pass.

Unlike the debate over Barack Obama’s healthcare legislation a decade ago, progressives appear to be more closely aligned with the president and able to flex their political muscles. On Thursday they were united in making the case that centrists are now in the minority.

Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, told the MSNBC network: “Four per cent of all the Democrats in the House and Senate are blocking the Build Back Better Act from passing. Ninety-six per cent agree with us.”




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Democrats try again to reach deal on infrastructure bill and reconciliation package

source: theguardian.com