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Polybius

(15,239 posts)
Tue Sep 28, 2021, 01:12 PM Sep 2021

Pelosi says Biden's infrastructure bill can't wait for social safety net bill

Source: NBC News

The speaker told Democrats that the House will vote Thursday on the infrastructure bill. Progressive lawmakers have threatened to vote it down.

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told Democrats on Monday that passage of the $550 billion infrastructure bill must not wait for President Joe Biden's multitrillion-dollar safety net bill, saying the larger package is not yet ready for a vote.

In a private caucus meeting, Pelosi, D-Calif., said the party must "make difficult choices," because the dynamics have changed and Democrats have not yet agreed to a spending level, according to a source familiar with the meeting.

"I told all of you that we wouldn't go on to the [infrastructure bill until] we had the reconciliation bill passed by the Senate. We were right on schedule to do all of that, until 10 days ago, a week ago, when I heard the news that this number had to come down," Pelosi said, according to the source. "It all changed, so our approach had to change.

"We had to accommodate the changes that were being necessitated. And we cannot be ready to say until the Senate passed the bill we can't do BIF," she said, using a shorthand for Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework, the source said.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/pelosi-says-biden-s-infrastructure-bill-cannot-wait-social-safety-n1280215

39 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Pelosi says Biden's infrastructure bill can't wait for social safety net bill (Original Post) Polybius Sep 2021 OP
This is bad. Also, it's not just a social safety net-- it's freaking climate legislation LymphocyteLover Sep 2021 #1
Live updates here LymphocyteLover Sep 2021 #6
Unpopular droidamus2 Sep 2021 #27
Nancy can call it what she wants. She's helping to write it. jimfields33 Sep 2021 #8
well sure, but it seemed like that social safety net bill was the term the news piece used LymphocyteLover Sep 2021 #19
So basically the leadership has given up on transformative change. Voltaire2 Sep 2021 #2
I would not give up just yet. totodeinhere Sep 2021 #5
No one 'won'. Pelosi had to, & did find a work-around. Budi Sep 2021 #7
It's not a "work-around", more like a step-around ... and even that is somewhat euphemistic. KPN Sep 2021 #10
Sounds like No Labels. Dawson Leery Sep 2021 #3
It's only a go if you have the votes bucolic_frolic Sep 2021 #4
Good! The infrastructure bill is needed. Now. question everything Sep 2021 #9
Why now qazplm135 Sep 2021 #12
Transportation funding runs out this week FBaggins Sep 2021 #14
Well that's not enough reason qazplm135 Sep 2021 #17
As soon as you take over for the Speaker... you let us know. nt FBaggins Sep 2021 #22
yawn qazplm135 Sep 2021 #23
Because it passed the Senate. Just vote for it and send it to Biden question everything Sep 2021 #20
lol "leftists" qazplm135 Sep 2021 #24
No, I want it to pass, on its own merit. question everything Sep 2021 #26
what does that even mean? qazplm135 Sep 2021 #28
I don't get why we can't wait qazplm135 Sep 2021 #11
Take a look at the congressional calendar BlueIdaho Sep 2021 #34
the legislative calendar can be changed qazplm135 Sep 2021 #36
I'm suggesting BlueIdaho Sep 2021 #37
Some relevant extra information FBaggins Sep 2021 #13
With r's destroying the economy Marthe48 Sep 2021 #15
Yes, they are creating as much chaos as possible so they can blame it on the Dems and win back power LymphocyteLover Sep 2021 #30
Whatever, whatever, whatever! jaxexpat Sep 2021 #16
Nope Sgent Sep 2021 #18
As they should be. question everything Sep 2021 #21
Put raising the debt limit in the Build Back Better Bill Tom Rinaldo Sep 2021 #25
I don't care what I hear anyone say, I'm behind Nancy all the way. nt abqtommy Sep 2021 #29
Hope the Progressives Hold the Line Nightowl Sep 2021 #31
Then nothing happens. honest.abe Sep 2021 #32
I really don't care what the progressive do.....but I will fund their opponents at every turn... Historic NY Sep 2021 #33
Let's take what we can get now with the infrastructure bill. Lasher Sep 2021 #35
Progressives have a choice brooklynite Sep 2021 #38
So she's calling their bluff, going ahead with the vote? shoot-out at the OK corral, its on! Shanti Shanti Shanti Sep 2021 #39

droidamus2

(1,699 posts)
27. Unpopular
Tue Sep 28, 2021, 03:31 PM
Sep 2021

Probably won't be popular here but my opinion is that this is where the progressive wing of the Democratic party either has to flex the strength or be permanently relegated to the back bench. They have to hold their ground and either the leadership stays with the plan of pass the human infrastructure bill in both houses first or bring it all to a halt.

Voltaire2

(12,629 posts)
2. So basically the leadership has given up on transformative change.
Tue Sep 28, 2021, 01:17 PM
Sep 2021

Manchin and Sinema have won. As always, the bi-partisan corporate corruption coalition, willing to sacrifice democratic party rule and fiscal stability to preserve the status quo, gets its way.

sigh....

totodeinhere

(13,037 posts)
5. I would not give up just yet.
Tue Sep 28, 2021, 01:29 PM
Sep 2021

Progressives will continue to fight for this fully funded bill. It may take more time but lets not take our eyes off from the prize.

 

Budi

(15,325 posts)
7. No one 'won'. Pelosi had to, & did find a work-around.
Tue Sep 28, 2021, 01:36 PM
Sep 2021
"It all changed, so our approach had to change.

"We had to accommodate the changes that were being necessitated. And we cannot be ready to say until the Senate passed the bill we can't do BIF," she (Pelosi) said



It's not over & no one won anthing yet.

Its not a win/lose sporting event.
Its how policy has always been introduced & brought to the President's desk in the legislature

This is hardly the 1st tough fight of Pelosi, Schumer & Biden's successful career

KPN

(15,587 posts)
10. It's not a "work-around", more like a step-around ... and even that is somewhat euphemistic.
Tue Sep 28, 2021, 01:58 PM
Sep 2021

My initial gut reaction: uh-oh, here we go again.

bucolic_frolic

(42,679 posts)
4. It's only a go if you have the votes
Tue Sep 28, 2021, 01:29 PM
Sep 2021

and with inflation surfacing there won't be the stomach for the biggest bills. We only learn of the end result of posturing. They'll keep working on an additional bill. If deflation happens this winter, as forecast, the tide may change for the better.

question everything

(47,271 posts)
9. Good! The infrastructure bill is needed. Now.
Tue Sep 28, 2021, 01:55 PM
Sep 2021

It will be the crown achievement of the administration in the midterm elections!

FBaggins

(26,697 posts)
14. Transportation funding runs out this week
Tue Sep 28, 2021, 02:06 PM
Sep 2021

And it isn't part of the continuing resolution that is currently stalled.

question everything

(47,271 posts)
20. Because it passed the Senate. Just vote for it and send it to Biden
Tue Sep 28, 2021, 02:37 PM
Sep 2021

In several weeks the session will end and the 2022 campaigns will start. With the realization that we may lose our majority this is something solid to have.

I don’t understand why the leftists insist on coupling both bills beyond showing who is pulling the strings.

qazplm135

(7,447 posts)
24. lol "leftists"
Tue Sep 28, 2021, 03:03 PM
Sep 2021

I see, so you are just happy to see the reconciliation bill fail right?

This is why the "leftists" don't trust the moderates. You want your cake and they can pound sand.

qazplm135

(7,447 posts)
28. what does that even mean?
Tue Sep 28, 2021, 03:47 PM
Sep 2021

There is no "merit." There's two large groups with two sets of goals. One is seeing all of their goals met, one is not, you appear to think that's ok.

qazplm135

(7,447 posts)
11. I don't get why we can't wait
Tue Sep 28, 2021, 02:04 PM
Sep 2021

A few weeks?

What's the urgency? What changes between passing one bill now and two in a month or less?

Unless Pelosi believes there won't be a reconciliation bill at all that passes?

Having said that, this plea is either a recognition she doesn't have the votes and trying to convince progressives to vote, or she thinks she has republican votes and trying to prejustify.

BlueIdaho

(13,582 posts)
34. Take a look at the congressional calendar
Tue Sep 28, 2021, 07:16 PM
Sep 2021

We don’t have weeks to wait - this must pass before the legislative year ends.

qazplm135

(7,447 posts)
36. the legislative calendar can be changed
Tue Sep 28, 2021, 07:43 PM
Sep 2021

and it's going to have to include dealing with debt ceiling by mid October ANYWAYS, so what you arguing that Congress won't be in session by then?

Baloney.

BlueIdaho

(13,582 posts)
37. I'm suggesting
Tue Sep 28, 2021, 09:37 PM
Sep 2021

The Congress critters are in Washington far fewer days than you may believe.

BTW - nice attitude.

FBaggins

(26,697 posts)
13. Some relevant extra information
Tue Sep 28, 2021, 02:05 PM
Sep 2021

When Pelosi made the deal with moderates to hold the infrastructure vote by yesterday, she expected to receive the Senate bill by the 30th (so that it could be passed early in the new fiscal year). Regardless of which one was brought to a vote first... she expected it to get done.

The infrastructure bill includes ground transportation funding that is otherwise due to expire at the end of the month. Because it was expected to be replaced by the infrastructure bill, it wasn't included in the continuing resolution to fund the government (which, of course, is currently held up because the debt ceiling was attached to it). So she needs the infrastructure bill to pass.

Some may remember the conversation from a month ago. Pelosi was saying that accepting a deal to bring it to a vote by the 27th wasn't really much of a concession... because it had to be voted on by the 30th anyway. The bigger concession was the agreement not to bring the reconciliation bill to a vote until it could pass the Senate. It was right after this that Manchin started talking about a "strategic pause".

Marthe48

(16,692 posts)
15. With r's destroying the economy
Tue Sep 28, 2021, 02:07 PM
Sep 2021

does it matter if one or both get passed right now?
Seems like r's want to destroy the economy, an American entity I never thought would fail, but I never thought we'd have a plague, or another civil war, or have people who claim to be Americans tearing down our country. Seems like if they can't tear it down in a fair fight, they'll cheat, lie, steal and whore themselves to get a pile of rubble. And then they can stand around acting like they did something to save the U.S.A.

LymphocyteLover

(5,601 posts)
30. Yes, they are creating as much chaos as possible so they can blame it on the Dems and win back power
Tue Sep 28, 2021, 04:51 PM
Sep 2021

they are freaking terrorists

jaxexpat

(6,703 posts)
16. Whatever, whatever, whatever!
Tue Sep 28, 2021, 02:12 PM
Sep 2021

If the Democratic senate and the Democratic house don't pass something by November 2022, for whatever reason, we (you and I) are in for a bad time. It doesn't have to be a perfect bill filled with everybody's favorite, good things. It only needs to be a bill with no bad things in it.

That would be a feat at this point. I hope our Democratic representatives can do at least that.

Sgent

(5,857 posts)
18. Nope
Tue Sep 28, 2021, 02:23 PM
Sep 2021

no more highway funding without major green incentives. Currently they are in two separate bills.

Tom Rinaldo

(22,911 posts)
25. Put raising the debt limit in the Build Back Better Bill
Tue Sep 28, 2021, 03:20 PM
Sep 2021

If I were a progressive member of Congress that might be the way I would be leaning. Sure, pass the infrastructure bill on Thursday. Sure, be willing to raise the debt limit if it is bundled into one reconciliation bill. That doesn't mean I wouldn't be open to making some cuts to the Build Back Better bill in order to reach a reasonable compromise with the obstructionist so called moderates, but without a must pass vehicle to carry the bulk of Biden's agenda I simply don't trust that most of it will ever be enacted otherwise. Only the Right plays hardball in America and that to a large extent is why the Right usually wins.

Nightowl

(77 posts)
31. Hope the Progressives Hold the Line
Tue Sep 28, 2021, 04:56 PM
Sep 2021

As a progressive I am sick of the conservadems expecting the progressives to always give in to their business masters and leave the real people behind. Compromises have already been made and the conservadems just continue asking for more I hope progressives call their bluff this time. If not progressives will have no voice as usual.

honest.abe

(8,556 posts)
32. Then nothing happens.
Tue Sep 28, 2021, 05:33 PM
Sep 2021

I think most Republicans dont care about passing any bill under the Biden admin.

Historic NY

(37,449 posts)
33. I really don't care what the progressive do.....but I will fund their opponents at every turn...
Tue Sep 28, 2021, 05:43 PM
Sep 2021

lets get something passed while we can....and then we have the two other assholes in the Senate. Republicans never talk about other Republicans, Democrats should follow that example.

Lasher

(27,502 posts)
35. Let's take what we can get now with the infrastructure bill.
Tue Sep 28, 2021, 07:28 PM
Sep 2021

We'll be fools if we don't get it through the House. We'll have a whole year after that to pass BIF.

brooklynite

(93,878 posts)
38. Progressives have a choice
Wed Sep 29, 2021, 08:23 AM
Sep 2021

They can join with moderates and pass the most expansive infrastructure Bill in decades, giving Biden a win and increasing the chances of holding the House.

Or, they can stand on principle and lose.

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