House speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) said Democrats need more time to pass a $1 trillion infrastructure bill and potential $3.5 trillion resolution to be passed via budget reconciliation, in a Dear Colleague letter released on Friday evening.
“While great progress has been made in the negotiations to develop a House, Senate and White House agreement on the Build Back Better Act, more time is needed to complete the task,” Pelosi wrote. “Our Chairs are still working for clarity and consensus. Clearly, the Bipartisan Infrastructure bill will pass once we have agreement on the reconciliation bill.”
Pelosi released the letter hours after President Biden visited Capitol Hill to speak with the House Democratic Caucus regarding passage of the legislation. Biden tried to tamp down expectations for passing the legislation, saying the reconciliation package could be cut to $1.9 trillion to $2.3 trillion, according to Politico.
“We’re going to get this done,” Biden told reporters after the meeting. “It doesn’t matter when. It doesn’t matter whether it’s in six minutes, six days, or six weeks. We’re going to get it done.”
.@POTUS: “We’re going to get this done. It doesn’t matter when. It doesn’t matter whether it’s in six minutes, six days, or six weeks. We’re going to get it done.”https://t.co/wZt81HtcYb pic.twitter.com/JP44eE5ujs
— CSPAN (@cspan) October 1, 2021
A Thursday vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill was delayed due to opposition from progressive Democrats, who are demanding that the Senate vote on the reconciliation bill before the House passes the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Progressives hope to fund programs such as free universal pre-K and community college through the reconciliation package.
On Friday evening as well, House Progressive Caucus chairwoman Pramila Jayapal (D., Wash.) predicted that the House would not vote on the bipartisan bill.
“The bipartisan bill is not happening tonight,” Jayapal told reporters. “I think the president was very clear about that.”
However, Senators Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D., Ariz.) have publicly refused to back the $3.5 trillion price tag, with Manchin aiming for $1.5 trillion. Sinema flew back to her home state from Washington, D.C., on Friday for a medical appointment as well as for a fundraiser, the New York Times reported.
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If these morally void individuals, some even evil or bordering on evil, were spending their money. I ask you, would this mess of a lawless third world land mass be in the same position it is today? Again, I ask you, if they could be held accountable, I mean actually held accountable civilly and criminally. I ask you, would this land mass be in the same position is is today? Over the decades they has passed laws that have successfully isolated them from prosecution for crimes that we would be serving prison time for. Even if one of these so called representatives were found guilty they would serve a reduced sentence in a special prison system created just for them. Some refer to their prison as a country club. Instead of bars or high walls they have lines painted on the floor. Is it over for America? Unfortunately, yes it is.