(TheRedWire.com) – Passing President Biden’s trillion-dollar infrastructure package is getting increasingly difficult for Democrats. On the one hand, moderate Democrats want a bipartisan solution. On the other hand, progressive Democrats don’t want to compromise and prefer a go-it-alone agenda. President Joe Biden is stuck in the middle, and his agenda is on the line. On Tuesday, June 22, the president met with a bipartisan group to hear their concerns. Afterward, Biden called House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to the White House the following day to discuss the growing crisis surrounding the passage of the infrastructure bill.
NEW: Schumer, Pelosi meeting with White House on infrastructure https://t.co/gVxYeoPdVQ pic.twitter.com/4EQmjvC3DJ
— The Hill (@thehill) June 22, 2021
It appears for the moment that hope is fading on a bipartisan deal. Democrats are trying to govern as if they have a solid majority in the Senate. However, they don’t. Democrats and Republicans have a 50/50 split. If one Democrat or independent who caucuses with them bails, it’s lights out on Biden’s infrastructure agenda if they’re planning to go it alone. However, moderates are also signaling they may not vote for a massive reconciliation bill as America’s debt continues to explode.
If a decision isn’t made one way or another by the close of business on Thursday, it could stall the chances of a bill getting a vote anytime soon. After Thursday, the Senate leaves town for two weeks. Whether it’s a bipartisan compromise or a reconciliation bill, it could be tough going for one of the president’s top legislative priorities.
Copyright 2021, TheRedWire.com
