House Delays Vote on $1 Trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill

The House delayed a vote on the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill on Thursday, as progressive Democrats refused to support the bill until Congress acts on a reconciliation package projected to cost $3.5 trillion.

An intraparty battle delayed the bipartisan infrastructure effort as progressives held out on supporting the bill in an effort to create leverage for passing the larger package, which includes climate-change initiatives, expansions of health care, public education, paid leave and child-care programs, as well as an array of tax increases. Moderate Senators Kyrsten Sinema (D., Ariz.) and Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.) have refused to support the cost of the reconciliation package, with Manchin suggesting a $1.5 trillion price tag.

“I don’t see a deal tonight,” Manchin told reporters following negotiations with White House officials on Thursday night. 

Earlier on Thursday, Progressive Caucus chairwoman Pramila Jayapal (D., Wash.) said Democrats did not have the votes to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill.

“I do not think the infrastructure bill is going to come to a vote tonight,” Jayapal told CBS. “Right now, there are not the votes.”

On Tuesday, Senator Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) joined Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) and other members of the progressive “Squad” in urging Democrats to vote against the infrastructure bill unless Congress first passed the reconciliation bill.