CBC chair left waiting outside Progressive Caucus meeting
7 p.m.
In an awkward development in the marathon debate, Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), head of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), arrived outside the meeting of the Progressive Caucus — and they haven’t let her in.
Beatty, who’s joined Pelosi in pushing for a stand-alone infrastructure vote, said neither the Speaker nor President Biden, with whom she spoke earlier in the day, asked her to visit the progressives in an effort to change minds.
“I asked if I could come here,” she said.
Beatty said Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) had come to her in the morning, and together they arrived at the plan to vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the rule for the social spending package — the same strategy the progressives are now revolting against.
She acknowledged that it might not have been the best strategy, but said it was way to get the ball rolling after weeks of stalemate.
Beatty said it’s unclear if there will be a vote Friday on either bill. But she predicted Pelosi won’t bring anything to the floor without the votes to pass it.
“If we call for a vote on infrastructure then it will pass, she said.
Asked if they were going to let her in, Beatty said only, “I guess I’ll know when they come to the door.”
At one point, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), a member of both the Black and Progressive caucuses, left the meeting, came into the hallway and gave Beatty a hug.
Then Omar went back inside.
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/580214-live-coverage-house-moves-to-pass-biden-agenda