1) There is a lot to fillet from today’s events on the bipartisan infrastructure plan.
First this is very fragile. There is no bill next. There is a broad set of principles and pay-fors. We probably won’t start to see formal legislative text until early July if not later.
First this is very fragile. There is no bill next. There is a broad set of principles and pay-fors. We probably won’t start to see formal legislative text until early July if not later.
2) This is a general framework.
But the sides are trying to make this work.
President Biden made a point of making a rare appearance in the White House driveway today with the coalition of bipartisan senators. He wanted to show that he was all-in with their deal
But the sides are trying to make this work.
President Biden made a point of making a rare appearance in the White House driveway today with the coalition of bipartisan senators. He wanted to show that he was all-in with their deal
3) This was not a soundbite. This was a “sight byte.” A sight byte is more powerful. And Mr. Biden was sending a message to Democrats and Republicans by visually showing he supported this plan.
4) Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said this week he expected to dual track the bipartisan plan, and, a partisan, expensive, $6 trillion plan which Democrats may pass on their own – during the month of July.
5) Democrats could do this alone via the special budget reconciliation process which sidesteps filibusters.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) indicated she wouldn’t budge until the Senate sent over the reconciliation plan – the measure Democrats will likely prefer.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) indicated she wouldn’t budge until the Senate sent over the reconciliation plan – the measure Democrats will likely prefer.
6) Things will likely consume more time than you expect in the Senate. So this may bleed well into August. So, the House may not move until sometime in August, depending on how expeditiously the Senate can advance plans.
7) President Biden said he expected to get these bills “this summer” adding, before “the fiscal year is over.” So, that’s September 30.
President Biden also indicated the two bills must be “in tandem.” He said he wouldn’t sign anything “if only one comes to me.”
President Biden also indicated the two bills must be “in tandem.” He said he wouldn’t sign anything “if only one comes to me.”
8) That could prove to be his most critical statement. Watch to see if the President sticks to that comment or reverses if Democrats are on the precipice of passing some form of infrastructure legislation.
9) As I always say each summer, “Beware the Ides of August.” August is the most intense month politically on the calendar. More volatile than the “Ides of March” which William Shakespeare wrote about.
This is why I took vacation in June.
This is why I took vacation in June.
10) You’ve heard of infrastructure week? This is going to be infrastructure summer.
August is going to be a monster this year when it comes to dealing with infrastructure – and the debt ceiling.
August is going to be a monster this year when it comes to dealing with infrastructure – and the debt ceiling.
11) Lawmakers will probably have to attach the debt ceiling hike to whatever infrastructure measure they can muster.
12) Meantime, Democrats are digging in on their own, $6 trillion reconciliation infrastructure package, stocked with Democratic goodies. Provisions on health care. The climate. Potential taxes for the wealthy and corporations.
13) It’s possible Democrats laid a trap for Republicans.
Why would the GOP go along with the narrow infrastructure bill presented today if Democrats still intend to simultaneously assemble their own massive bill – and pass both?
Why would the GOP go along with the narrow infrastructure bill presented today if Democrats still intend to simultaneously assemble their own massive bill – and pass both?
14) Republicans may have secured a reasonable deal on the bipartisan package. But Democrats will take them to cleaners with the reconciliation infrastructure bill.
15) Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) called the bipartisan plan “an encouraging sign of progress. But McConnell argues Pelosi and Schumer “literally pulled out the rug” from the bipartisan coalition by continuing to push their own bill.
16) Here’s the trap for Republicans: if Democrats are doing their own bill, why should the GOP stay engaged? And if Republicans walk away from the bipartisan bill, Democrats will immediately blame the GOP for blowing up that accord.
17) Democrats could accuse the GOP of failing to work together in good faith. Democrats will then do their own bill.
18) Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) blasted the bipartisan deal. She tweeted that to get GOP support Democrats had to give up on helping the middle class. A statement from the House Progressive Caucus also expressed skepticism about working with the GOP.
19) So, the accord on this “bipartisan infrastructure bill” is brittle at best. That’s augmented by McConnell’s floor statement.
And expect a rather raucous July and August on Capitol Hill.
And expect a rather raucous July and August on Capitol Hill.
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