Nancy Pelosi leads divided Democratic Party to agreement on infrastructure

The House voted 220–212, along party lines, to let Democrats work on the budget plan and to require the House to take up the bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, already passed by the Senate, by late September. 

The passage came after nine moderate Democrats in Congress, which would have cost the vote had they defected, publicly protested to drop the $3.5 trillion budget resolution for the time being and to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill first. 

“The challenge we face right now is that there is a standoff with some of our colleagues who have decided to hold the infrastructure bill hostage for months, or kill it altogether, if they don’t get what they want in the next bill—a largely undefined $3.5 trillion reconciliation package,” the group of representatives wrote in a Washington Post op-ed this Sunday. “While we have concerns about the level of spending and potential revenue raisers, we are open to immediate consideration of that package.”

The group of centrists, led by Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), negotiated with Speaker Nancy Pelosi all through Monday and into Tuesday before coming to an agreement. 

“I am committing to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill by Sept. 27. I do so with a commitment to rally House Democratic support for its passage,” Pelosi wrote in a statement outlining the deal. “We must keep the 51-vote privilege by passing the budget and work with House and Senate Democrats to reach agreement in order for the House to vote on a Build Back Better Act that will pass the Senate.” The statement went on to thank Gottheimer and his group for their “enthusiastic support,” of the bill. 

The group also issued a statement saying that setting a deadline of Sept. 27 to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill was a “big win for America.” 

While progressive Democrats largely remained quiet on the topic, some offered criticism of what they perceived to be a win for the centrist faction of the party. Instead of passing the budget as is, congressional Democrats will now work in parallel with the Senate and will commit to voting on the bipartisan infrastructure bill next month even if that means separating it from the budget blueprint.

“You know the whole thing was a fiasco, to be honest,” said Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), who had hoped to pass both bills in unison and without working in parallel with Senate. “I really don’t know why they try to get into something without having an actual goal that they wanted to accomplish. It seems like amateur hour,” she added, insinuating that centrist Democrats were merely exerting power for power’s sake.

President Biden delivered a speech Tuesday afternoon praising Congress for coming to a deal. “I want to thank Speaker Pelosi, who was masterful in her leadership with this,” he said. “I also want to thank every Democrat in the House who worked so hard to come to an agreement,” he said, adding that differences in points of view are always welcome. 

Congress will now depart for August recess and reconvene in September.

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