Legislative Update

House Democrats at impasse over key elements of Biden agenda
 
House Democrats are at an impasse concerning two key elements of President Biden’s agenda. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) and a number of liberal Democrats are insisting that the budget resolution that will form the basis of a $3.5 trillion plan involving sweeping social spending and climate action measures pass before they take up a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure proposal.   Both measures passed the Senate earlier this month.  A group of moderate Democrats are insisting that the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill be passed before the $3.5 trillion budget resolution. 
 
Given unified Republican opposition to the $3.5 trillion plan, and the slim Democratic majority, the speaker cannot lose more than 3 votes for the package.  Nine House moderates are currently holding out.   As a result of the impasse, plans to vote on the budget resolution yesterday evening were postponed. The speaker is weighing a plan to tie both measures together.
 
Vigorous negotiations continue.  Last night, the speaker indicated that a vote could occur Tuesday, August 24.