Democrats bullish they'll reach finish line this week
By Aris Folley,Naomi Jagoda and Mike Lillis - 11/16/21 06:07 PM EST
House Democrats are increasingly bullish that they will pass their social spending and climate package this week, saying they’ll rally the support of wary moderates who want more information on the measure’s cost before voting for it.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Tuesday that the bill will hit the floor Wednesday for debate, and receive a vote as soon as Thursday, though the timeline could slip to Friday or Saturday. The vote is expected to come after the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) releases additional reports gauging the cost of the legislation.
A handful of centrists have withheld their support for the $1.75 trillion package while awaiting more “fiscal information” from the CBO, but they’ve stopped shy of demanding a comprehensive estimate from Congress’s official scorekeeper.
That nuanced distinction has left both the moderates and party leaders with some wiggle room in the debate, and key lawmakers are already indicating they’re ready to back the legislation without a final CBO score.
Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) told reporters on Tuesday that he doesn’t need the CBO’s full “interactive score” on the package in order to feel comfortable voting for the bill, though he does want to see the provisional estimates.
“We're trying to be team players but be able to defend our vote back home,” he said.
Such concessions have led Democratic leaders to voice growing optimism.
“It’s going to pass,” Hoyer said.
House Democrats are facing pressure to send the measure to the Senate quickly.
more
https://thehill.com/policy/equilibrium-sustainability/581858-democrats-bullish-theyll-reach-finish-line-this-week
