Dems punt House infrastructure vote in blow to Biden agenda
Source: Politico
The move came after progressives refused to relent in their opposition to the $550 billion infrastructure bill amid a standoff over Democrats separate, party-line $1.75 trillion social spending measure. It followed a visit to Capitol Hill by President Joe Biden, who personally asked House Democrats for their support on both the infrastructure plan and the separate social policy framework.
But Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her leadership team were ultimately unable to win over dozens of dug-in liberals in time for a Thursday evening vote. House liberals said they want to review the legislative text of $1.75 trillion social spending legislation the White House outlined Thursday and get a commitment of support from centrist Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) something the two have not outright given.
Despite an aggressive whipping campaign from Democratic leaders, as many as 30 liberal Democrats threatened to block the roughly $550 billion Senate-passed infrastructure bill, according to multiple people familiar with the vote-tallying operation. As House Democrats headed home for the weekend in defeat, many were infuriated and left wondering how they had stumbled yet again, pointing fingers within their own party.
Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/10/28/biden-house-democrats-517416
msongs
(67,413 posts)left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)luv2fly
(2,475 posts)I don't blame the 30 progressives, the 2 moderates need to commit.
spooky3
(34,457 posts)Funds them.
George II
(67,782 posts)Budi
(15,325 posts)..their nation's proposals & commitments in hand.
This delay has now cost our US President the very proposal he intended to offer on behalf of the US.
Way to fking go. !!
Maybe Joe can take a quote from those house members holding it up, and in his speech before the world leaders convince them that "Nothing is really better than something"
Cuz that's the very message they sent him as he leaves for the 1st serious global conference on Climate.
Go ahead Joe, you go into that conference with nothing to bring to that global climate table as you sit with dignitaries & leaders, all prepared to propose what their country's generously offer as they all take this matter serious.
US Congress members apparantly don't even give 2 shits about their President telling those serious leaders that the US has nothing to offer
Thanks for nothing Congress.
Justice matters.
(6,930 posts)Not only that, fossil-fuel emissions increased instead of meeting their reduction targets.
You can have all the proposals & commitments you want put on paper and signed, but if once back home, you do nothing significant enough to enforce them, you'll get increases instead of reductions.
Budi
(15,325 posts)..so it doesn't matter that he's got nothing to bring to the table as to what his nation is currently doing about climate.
No biggie. That whole climate conference is a wash anyway, because last time it was just a useless meeting, by the description you provided.
So you're saying its a pointless meeting & no big deal that President Biden is attending so it doesn't matter one bit if he's got nothing to report from the USA as to how his once great BBB is now shredded & delayed by his own congress, that for some reason keeps moving their demands like goalposts at every turn, & create chaos & delays as if to intentionaly strip Him of this incredible policy plan, specifically written as a foundation, built solid for future generations to build upon.
But hey Joe, it was always a longshot with sabatours at every turn, vying for their moment to co--opt your fine BBB as though they had created it themselves.
Biden had an exemplary policy plan, researched down to the last detail. It's understandable how those who've sat in wait, lobbing degrading personal attacks at him & his fellow Democratic leaders via Soc & TV Media, would want to claim the best parts of his BBB as their own, rather than actually hand America the gift that Joe Biden brought to the White House, credit Biden with tge full honor of HIS legacy, without 1st pissing all over him and his fellow Democratic leaders, while slicing up his BBB & grabbing some of that greatness to claim for themselves as they parade thru the daily Corporate owned TV Media lineup, patting themselves on the back because afterall, its now THEY who brought the great BBB to America & not President Biden nor Speaker Pelosi.
See how that works?
Pretty fking backstabbing, ain't it!
You asked & I responded.
Anything else you want to be enlightened by some fking truth?
Ask me anything. I've been researching these same players since they arrived back in 2012. A few years before Trump won the Presidency.
And here we are.
Justice matters.
(6,930 posts)Although some states do their part, like for example, New York State:
New York State signs 25-year contract with Hydro-Quebec as the state moves away from fossil fuel energy
https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/new-york-state-signs-25-year-contract-with-hydro-quebec-as-the-state-moves-away-from-fossil-fuel-energy-1.5592621
And other states, like for instance, California, and President Biden could mention these, but as long as special interests (short term profits) will be allowed to buy up politicians, forget it. We're screwed as a species.
JudyM
(29,251 posts)RobinA
(9,893 posts)just not falling further behind at this point.
JudyM
(29,251 posts)are already rolling at increasing velocity.
Regardless of what others are doing we need to strongly lead.
Autumn
(45,105 posts)Fixed it for you.
George II
(67,782 posts)Autumn
(45,105 posts)exactly be in it is irresponsible. Bills need text. To bring it to a vote as a "framework" is irresponsible.
George II
(67,782 posts)I wouldn't dare call Speaker Pelosi irresponsible.
Autumn
(45,105 posts)George II
(67,782 posts)....are satisfied, the President is satisfied, the Speaker is satisfied, and almost all Democrats in the House are satisfied.
Now only a handful of Democrats are holding it up.
Autumn
(45,105 posts)holding out for a reason. A good one.
bluewater
(5,376 posts)the same day it was announced:
"Progressives were triumphant, but the rest of the Democratic caucus was seething," Politico's Katherine Tully-McManus reports. "I think it's wholly apparent that today was not a success," Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) said Thursday, blaming unidentified "obstructionists" for "not delivering" the infrastructure bill "because apparently failing roads and bridges can just wait in the minds of some people."
"But just when it looked like the day would end in embarrassment for Democrats, the Congressional Progressive Caucus issues a surprise endorsement of the president's compromise plan removing one of the last big obstacles in its way," Politico's Rachael Bade recapped Friday morning. This endorsement "was drowned out" by the CPC's decision to block the infrastructure bill until it gets more assurances about the details of the $1.8 trillion framework and its fate in the Senate. "But the dispute over sequencing masked a major achievement for the president: Hill progressives now appear ready to swallow this deal and that means it's likely a matter of when, not if, it passes."
The restive centrists of the Senate Democratic caucus, Sens. Joe Manchin (W. Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.), also "offered positive comments about the deal, but without committing to vote for it," The Washington Post reports. But they got most of what they asked for in the negotiations. Progressive Democrats had to give up a lot. "We wanted a $3.5 trillion package, but we understand the reality of the situation," CPC chairwoman Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) told reporters Thursday night.
https://theweek.com/congress/1006592/gop-trump-critic-adam-kinzinger-wont-run-for-re-election-time-to-move-on
Manchin and Sinema have STILL not committed to vote for a Build Back Better bill based President Biden's framework.
George II
(67,782 posts)...it's available to the House members, and in the Rules Committee hearing yesterday afternoon Chairman McGovern handed a printed copy of it, about 5 inches thick, to Ranking Member Cole.
So it's there and available for all members to read it.
What's interesting is a couple of members who were most outspoken about "no text, no vote" were on Twitter yesterday afternoon an hour or two after the bill was available. One would think they would be barricaded in their offices reading the bill instead of tweeting.
ColinC
(8,300 posts)You mean the two bought and paid for corporate shills? John Tester, John Hickenlooper and Angus King, are great moderates statesmen. "moderate" is a title far too dignified for the two jokers who shall not be named...
Baitball Blogger
(46,731 posts)olegramps
(8,200 posts)That is the nature of ultra-progressives. They demand the ultimate and refuse to compromise. Thereby destroying any chance for success. As it has been observed: Herding Democrats has the same chance of being successful and herding cats.
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)And the more he keeps it out there, the more it hurts him because it's daily now we're getting stories about there being a blow here and there.
Biden just needs to concede he's not going to get his infrastructure bill.
Both bills will eventually pass.
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)We've been at this for months and whenever it looks like a deal has been reached, it falls apart at the last second.
How many more times are we going to see headlines about the House punting or Manchin balking before we just concede it ain't going to pass?
Both bills will eventually pass.
Elessar Zappa
(14,004 posts)But I wish it would happen quicker.
Budi
(15,325 posts)This gift for today & for generations to build upon.
Because "nothing is really much better than something isn't it"?
Name every damned one of them who stalled, blamed, & held it up demanding more & those who demanded less.
Talk about being fked over by a bunch of selfish Media grandstanders while President Biden & America watches this remarkable bill be torn to shreds & endlessly stalled just so they could blame their own insistant failure, on Joe Biden.
Thanks anyway Mr President. Sabatours denyed America one of the finest Bills for progress, moving us into the future while securing our battered lives today.
As they all parade thru the Media Talk show lineup right on cue, assuring America that none of this was any fault of theres.
They can all go home now. Its over. They all got what they wanted.
Joe Biden & America lost to a bunch of shortsighted TV celebrities.
.
Me.
(35,454 posts)I never again want to hear any of them say how much they care for and are fighting for the people...an American president having to beg members of his own party to make things better for their fellow citizens is disgraceful. The only thing worse is how they kicked sand in his face.
Budi
(15,325 posts)He can't claim the US will invest $500Billion.
He can't claim the US's goals for infrastructure improvements to meet climate demands, nor even talk of where he will improve upon as his builds onto the next step, and the next.
This stupid selfish delay by congress sends our US President to meet with global leaders, empty handed.
The embarassment is lain directly on their shoulders.
I damn well believe it was intentional to deny President Biden, while they poster on the TV that CLIMATE MATTERS..
Nixie
(16,954 posts)Me.
(35,454 posts)They've gone too far, there will be a price to be paid.
twin_ghost
(435 posts)They are popping open champagne at the corporation & oligarchs Lobby Office Tonight.
MichMan
(11,932 posts)I wish she wouldn't keep doing that.
George II
(67,782 posts)...worse since Axel Springer SE, a German rightwing media company, bought them.
"Punted"? Hardly the word that should be used.
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)Pelosi has said multiple times over the weeks that a vote will come ... only to pullback at the last minute. I don't know how you frame it but this isn't the first time. It's happened like three times now:
Back in September, they were going to vote - and didn't:
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/26/pelosi-says-infrastructure-bill-will-pass-this-week-but-the-vote-may-be-delayed.html
Then they were going to vote on Oct. 1st - and didn't:
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/huddle/2021/10/01/infrastructure-delayed-but-pelosi-promises-vote-today-494546
And now this. I feel we're in perpetual reruns.
Budi
(15,325 posts)This isn't a problem with Pelosi. Its the stall, demand, delay bullshit thrown at her.
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)Better yet, Biden needs to just pull the bill. No one is benefiting from this game.
Budi
(15,325 posts)Its a powrr game & the intent is to basically tank the whole thing & head to the TV parade of talk hosts, to spin who's to blame .
But be sure it's not any of them.
🙄
Its a fking power game & their campaign speeches are already being written.
Sick ain't it.
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)She needs to stop promising a vote. It's damaging every time she has to cancel a vote. It's kicking up bad press. I am not blaming Pelosi for the delay - but the optics are not good at all. In the last month, we've had three attempts to move this to a vote, a promise from the Speaker that a vote will happen, only to have her back away from that because the votes aren't there. I am not blaming her for the votes not being there - I am just saying we need to stop making this proclamation until it is 100% certain the votes are there and if the votes aren't there, they need to pull the bill because if the outcome is no bill regardless, the continued tease of it, and Biden and Pelosi stating they have confidence in its passage, only to have it fall apart, is horrible optics.
Soon, and I mean probably within the next few days, they're going to have to decide whether it's worth it...or Biden gives up, pulls the bill and calls out those responsible for its failure to pass. But the constant, 'we're close...' only to have it blow up at the last minute is not helping anyone.
Budi
(15,325 posts)Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)Clearly you're not reading my posts. So I will be as clear as I can with you: I AM NOT BLAMING PELOSI. I am just saying she needs to stop calling a vote. That's it. The optics of these headlines are killing our side. That is a fact. I am not saying she is the reason there aren't the votes - I am saying she just needs to stop promising an actual vote when it's not going to happen.
It's not hard to grasp. Pelosi can't control the votes, that's pretty clear, but she can control stating we're going to have a vote by this day - and she should stop that. Simple.
littlemissmartypants
(22,691 posts)She can hardly abdicate the responsibility. Maybe someone could suggest that she kick back eating crumpets and having tea until something, sometime, whenever, oh, I don't know. . . She hires a surrogate to do her job for her???
Paleeeze.
What "kills" "our side" is the constant fault finding, non confidence building, belly aching petulant complainers.
Especially those claiming to be on "our side" that can't seem to hold fast to more constructive behaviors.
How about try being uniters and not dividers or uplifting and full of faith in the process and the people chosen to drive it?
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)This is the last thing I'm going to say on the subject. What you're saying makes no sense because she's not actually calling for a vote as a vote is not taking place. She continue to say she's going to bring it up for a vote and then is forced to cancel the vote because she can't wrangle the votes. There is nothing in the rules that state Pelosi has to do any of this. She's clearly doing it to put pressure on the progressive caucus but that's not working. Three times now she's proposed doing a vote and three times she has had to cancel it due to the progressives digging in.
Bottom line: these headlines are not productive. If Pelosi can't get the votes, she needs to stop floating these deadlines that she can't enforce. It just creates stories like this. I am not blaming Pelosi for anything. Only saying it might be better optics if she stop doing that...especially since it is something she can control.
littlemissmartypants
(22,691 posts)Furthermore, I don't agree with your stance, not even to a miniscule amount.
Perhaps you would prefer the entire process take place in secret rooms, behind impenetrable doors and after everything is decided and settled we find out later or never, what actually happened?
How about she could just spring it on us that the vote happened while we were all sleeping or numbing ourselves while the opiate of our choice continues to
keep us muddled and distracted?
I'm happy to have her insist on a vote as many times as it takes to get the job done. The persistent, perseverance she exhibits with her actions, regardless of the outcome, should be revered and admired and never criticized.
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)littlemissmartypants
(22,691 posts)Welcome to Full Ignore.
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)No hill dying here. You're just wrong. Pelosi needs to stop saying she's going to call a vote until she knows 100% that she can actually call it. It's that simple. You can ignore the optics and bury your head in the sand but it doesn't change the fact each time this happens, it adds another embarrassment to the White House.
And wasn't Pelosi the one who asked the progressives to not embarrass the White House? Well stop giving them an opportunity to. It's that simple.
I'm sorry you find the truth so difficult to accept.
George II
(67,782 posts)LenaBaby61
(6,974 posts)moose65
(3,167 posts)In their constant quest to show how "bad" both sides are, disagreements among the people who are trying to help most of America get equated to the actions of the people who encouraged the Capitol riot and who would just LOVE to start shooting the liberals if they could. It is insane.
I think both bills will eventually pass, and when they do, no one will remember all this angst and finger-pointing.
Bluethroughu
(5,172 posts)Not One Republican and two Democrats don't want to invest in THIS Country, and should be framed as such.
But the millionaires want another tax break and those same people have no problem with the fact many don't pay any tax and actually take money from the 99% that do PAY MORE than their fair share.
jimfields33
(15,820 posts)Bluethroughu
(5,172 posts)Why the defeatist talk of progressives held up the vote and everyone went home??
jimfields33
(15,820 posts)Waiting for the other bill to pass.
cilla4progress
(24,736 posts)But I just watched Jayapal on Maddow - albeit late - and she was confident of passage?
Me.
(35,454 posts)I am under the impression that unless she/they get what they want nothing goes forward.
cilla4progress
(24,736 posts)in a vise: no Build Back Better, no hard infrastructure. Which Sinema, for one, needs to get relected.
Lawrence ODonnell on MSNBC right now saying the progressive caucus is wielding impressive power! Albeit limited choices.
JohnSJ
(92,217 posts)Lasher
(27,597 posts)Again. Face it, it's what we do.
Me.
(35,454 posts)left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)Democrats are sinking Biden's agenda?
Lovie777
(12,274 posts)Beware of false narratives especially from RW news sites.
left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)I read post on DU
Lovie777
(12,274 posts)Response to Lovie777 (Reply #47)
left-of-center2012 This message was self-deleted by its author.
littlemissmartypants
(22,691 posts)orangecrush
(19,571 posts)Lasher
(27,597 posts)But there have been mixed reviews.
https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/politico/
LudwigPastorius
(9,155 posts)House progressives are refusing to vote for the infrastructure bill unless Sinema and Manchin vote yes for the social spending bill when it comes up in the Senate.
It's a game of chicken, with Biden's agenda, and possibly control of the House and Senate in 2022, at stake.
left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)LudwigPastorius
(9,155 posts)Do you want to lose the House and the Senate next year?
...because THIS is how you lose the House and Senate next year.
Cryptoad
(8,254 posts)tow teh party line if not just dont publicly oppose the party line.......We need to learn, Sometimes u just have to take what u can get.... live to fight another day for all that u didn't get.
Bayard
(22,085 posts)Dems just can't get their act together. Their party is so divided. They make promises they can't deliver. We voted them into office, and they can't get anything done. Yada yada yada.
It must be so frustrating and embarrassing for President Biden. And he'll be blamed for it.
JohnSJ
(92,217 posts)over Politico
Lovie777
(12,274 posts)littlemissmartypants
(22,691 posts)Jon King
(1,910 posts)43% approval rating for a decent, honest, hard working President who inherited a disaster and has tried tirelessly to help the American people. Maybe this country just does not deserve people like Clinton, Obama, Sanders, and Biden. Its utterly exhausting seeing Democrat after Democrat try to help the American people and get treated like garbage.
Marthe48
(16,968 posts)their constitutents. There was an agreement that the expenditures would be split into 2 parts, one that the r's would vote on and the other, which is supposed to benefit Americans, which only the Dems would vote on because the r's are a bunch of poopheads.
Seemingly, it is fine and dandy to strengthen the physical infrastructure, but why bother if a majority of Americans aren't going to get to use it? I'm in a rural area of Ohio. A few weeks ago, I drove Country Rd. 9 from one end to the other. It is mainly paved, and goes through The Wayne National Forest. It took me about an hour, and I saw no other cars. Most of my drive that day was solitary. What houses and farms I passed were shabby, rundown, dispirirted, family farms that are getting left by the wayside. I thought it was a metaphor for the country right now.
I think the progressives who are fighting to hang on to the original deal, and get an infrastructure that supports the needs of humans, of workers, of families are some of the most courageous people in government right now. There are several Dems who gave their word, and now, when push comes to shove, back away from the commitment they made to both parts of the bill.
For the first time in a generation, we aren't spending money on the war machine. Every other postwar period, the U.S. rebuilt the domestic programs and reinforced the floor that our workers, families and veterans stand on, so they can grow and develop and give back to their own lives and to this country.
I support the elected representatives who are keeping American citizens in mind and fighting for us. And I am proud of their stellar example of integrity.
Vinca
(50,276 posts)IMO it would make sense to break the bill causing the stoppage into smaller bits. Get what can be done now done, then chip away at the other things. It's not just the legislation that's at risk here, it's the entire legislature. If they have nothing to show come election day 2022, the voters won't be as enthusiastic about bothering to vote. If the GOP takes control again, it will have all been for naught anyway because they will immediately cancel out whatever was passed by Democrats. We all want the same thing, but without a supermajority you have to grab what you can get when the opportunity is there. I'll be really angry if the entire thing - both bills - go into the dumpster after all these months of work and negotiation.
Marthe48
(16,968 posts)The progressives are holding the line, as best they can and making sure the representavies who are renegging are visible in their opposition.
Even though much of the reform aspects are getting reduced or removed, and the overall expenditure is getting lower, some of the bill will survive. Maybe enough so that people can get a break.
My history teacher taught that social revolution comes from the middle class. I think one of the goals of the extremists is to destroy the middle class, to mute the voice of change. Whatever we get in the bill, it might energize people who want to see improvements in our quality of life and standard of living.
I agree that that way it is being covered in the news, it is hurting Dems. I hope it is voted on and passed soon, so that the people it is supposed to help get a feeling of the benefits in time to vote for Dems. Thanks for your thoughtful reply
Deminpenn
(15,286 posts)Jayapal was on with Maddow last night. Everything she said contradicted Politco's reporting.
First, she said her caucus has said all along they wanted to see the text of the bill. They got that sometime yesterday, 10/28.
Second, she said her caucus is not going home for the weekend, they are staying in DC to work.
Then she said her caucus will, not might or maybe, pass both bills and that they are taking a leap of faith that Biden has the 50 votes in the Senate he needs.
You can bet Biden did not make a speech about what's in the bill if he did not have Manchin, Sinema and however many other Dem senators who are hiding behind Manchin on board.
orangecrush
(19,571 posts)For taking a stand.
Enough is enough.
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,350 posts)Don't pass anything unless it's perfect. This will bring the revolution!
Budi
(15,325 posts)Multi-multi millionare susan who stands to lose nothing ...but maybe Taxes?? AhhHaaa!!
#TankBBB ! RFN!
(Susan don't wanna pay Joe Biden's tax rate either)