Progressives see infrastructure vote next week
By Mike Lillis and Scott Wong - 10/29/21 04:30 PM EDT House liberals are playing the long game.
The progressives who bucked their president to block an infrastructure vote this week also lowered the bar for moving an even larger social benefits package at the heart of Joe Biden's domestic policy agenda.
It's a two-step dance that's rankled party leaders in the near-term, but simultaneously paved the way for quicker action on both proposals — perhaps as early as next week.
“I don't think it'll take that long,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said as lawmakers headed home this week without a deal.
The timeline will hinge on the resolution of a series of outstanding issues still under negotiation within the “family” benefits package, as well as the drafting of the legislative language reflecting those lingering decisions. But with much of the text already released — and with the Progressive Caucus already endorsing that legislative framework — the liberals say both bills could be on the floor in a matter of days.
“We have the text; that's what we needed,” said Jayapal.
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https://thehill.com/homenews/house/579179-progressives-see-infrastructure-vote-next-week
