President Biden’s “Build Back Better” agenda came to a standstill Thursday night as House Speaker Pelosi delayed the vote on the $1.2 trillion bill, according to CNN.
Numerous reports said on Thursday night that Dem leadership canceled the vote.
Pelosi scheduled the House to have the vote on the $1.2 trillion bill, otherwise called the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. However, this vote was delayed as Nancy Pelosi attempted to gather the votes needed to pass one part of Biden’s two-pronged strategy for social spending and other liberal priorities.
Pelosi’s roadblock for the bill came in the form of House liberals, who said they wanted to block the bill if it was voted on Thursday.
Many liberal lawmakers wanted to have a path on the $3.5 trillion bill before a vote was done; however, after it seemed they could come to a compromise, Pelosi delayed the planned vote.
Democrat Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA), the chair of the liberal progressive caucus, has spearheaded the resistance against the Dems’ moderate wing. Jayapal said to CNN on Thursday night that her progressive wing will not break, and they will block the bill if it gets voted on Thursday night.
“I have never seen us so strong. And I am a good vote counter, also, maybe not as good as Pelosi sometimes, but I am excellent,” Jayapal said.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), the Senate Budget chairman, said on Thursday that the House is not able to have a vote on the infrastructure bill while attempting to work on the details of many trillions of dollars of legislation.
“It is a crazy way to do business, to negotiate a multi-trillion dollar bill right before a major vote, with virtually no one knowing what is going on. That is unacceptable,” Sanders said.
The vote seemed to be delayed after Democrat Senator Joe Manchin (WV), who was negotiating with the Biden Administration on the $3.5 trillion program, said, “I do not see a deal tonight.”
Manchin: “I don’t see a deal tonight”
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) October 1, 2021
Pelosi put out a Dear Colleague letter to Dems late Thursday night, stating, “Today has been a day of progress in fulfilling President Biden’s vision to Build Back Better. Discussions continue with the Senate, House, and White House to come to a bicameral agreement to Build Back Better,” Pelosi said.
Author: Scott Dowdy
