Schumer moves to shut down debate on $1T infrastructure bill

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is teeing up a Saturday vote to wind down debate on a roughly $1 trillion infrastructure bill, with senators hoping to pass the legislation as soon as this weekend.

Schumer on Thursday night moved to arrange the vote for Saturday, where he’ll need 60 votes to move forward, after a day of behind-the-scenes haggling failed to produce a breakthrough.

“I believe we’re very close to an agreement and see no reason why we can’t complete this important bipartisan bill," Schumer said. "So I urge both sides to continue working diligently to make it happen."

A Democratic aide described Schumer’s move as a back-up plan that would ensure that the Senate could take the procedural vote Saturday in the event that he wasn't able to work out a deal to finish the bill Thursday, as was the case.

After more than two hours on the floor, senators weren’t able to get a deal to wrap up the bill on Thursday night or agree on quickly moving to final passage once they reconvene on Saturday. That left some senators visibly frustrated as they departed the Capitol for the night. 

Senators had hoped to get a deal on anywhere between 16 to 25 additional amendment votes, but that fell apart by the end of the night. Instead they’ll vote to start ending debate on Saturday and have up to 60 hours to burn before final passage.