White House officials will travel to the Hill Tuesday to meet small groups of Democrats, including leaders from the New Democrat Coalition. Blue Dog Democrats, another centrist group, will meet Yarmuth and Biden adviser Steve Ricchetti Wednesday. Meanwhile, members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus met Ricchetti Tuesday.Yarmuth privately urged a small group of senior Democrats to not draw red lines public for any of the bills less than 24 hours ago. This was despite the fact that the bills could have different price tags or policy preferences, according to several members of the room.Details matter. We don't yet have these details. Yarmuth said Tuesday that it was safer to not talk about top-line numbers.Contrary to his advice, Democrats in both the House and Senate have spent weeks formulating their demands. This includes the Progressive Caucus which repeatedly stated to White House officials that it would not support a bipartisan bill on infrastructure without a separate spending bill.We have made a commitment to them that no matter what happens with bipartisan legislation they will give us reconciliation legislation that goes as far weve wanted, Rep. Ilhanomar (D-Minn.), said in an interview. She was referring to the complex budget process Democrats intend to use to pass their second bill, without a GOP vote.Omar pointed out that 60 percent of respondents to a poll by the group said that they would not vote for a bipartisan bill on infrastructure if it didn't include broader legislation.Rep. Ritchie Torres, a progressive lawmaker from New York, stated that the linkage was non-negotiable. He said the compromise did not include his priorities like affordable housing. He stated that he would not vote for any bill without being linked to a larger reconciliation bill.Many left-leaning people were disappointed with Biden's weekend comments. He softened his threat of opposing a bipartisan bill if Democrats don't also deliver him an expanded reconciliation bill. Biden's Saturday clean-up was meant to placate GOP senators who were annoyed by the president's insistence that he link his two-part infrastructure playbook. He wanted a bipartisan agreement in one hand, and a massive party-line bill the other.The more broad Democratic strategies were not secret. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated publicly last week that Democrats would not pass an infrastructure bill without the United States Senate passing the reconciliation bill.Biden acknowledged that Republicans were upset by his suggestion that he would veto a bipartisan bill that didn't have a Democrats-only companion, but that was a positive sign for the GOP. On Monday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), urged Biden for the same conciliatory clarifications from Chuck Schumer and Pelosi.Meanwhile, Senator Joe Manchin, whose opposition is sufficient to sink any party-lines bill at the Senate, reiterated Tuesday that Congress should continue with the process for the bipartisan infrastructure package. This is separate from progressive demands for a second bill.Manchin stated that he would not vote for another candidate if he didn't guarantee the vote for all. This is a new way of doing legislation. "I have never been part of it in the ten years that I have been in the Senate. Let's get the legislation done the way it's going be presented."West Virginia Democrat, who indicated he would support Democrats' second measure, some calling it "human infrastructure", Tuesday noted that he had not yet agreed on the amount and needed to see what the legislation will say.Manchin is one of a few moderates in both the House and Senate that believe bipartisanship should be the priority. They also reject the idea of a large, uniparty bill. They could stop the Democrats' plans for the floor, but they would have to vote no. But so could progressives making diametrically opposing demands.This leaves Democratic leaders scrambling to please both ideological ends of the party, with a strategy that is so delicate that they can't afford any defections in Senate and only three or four in House.There are many different points of view, but I believe we will all come together to support the president's proposals, House Majority leader Steny Hoyer said to reporters on Tuesday.During a visit to Wisconsin by Biden, he highlighted the importance cross-aisle compromise when implementing his agenda.Biden stated that every time we come together, negotiate in good faith, and accomplish something great, it helps us break more of the ice that keeps us from solving real problems.On the Hill, House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffreys declined to comment on whether the chamber would vote on a bipartisan bill only if the Senate first presents a larger, more partisan bill. Jeffries said that he would not necessarily consider one "contingent" to the other.Jeffries stated that the speaker and majority leader were very clear on how they would proceed. He also said that Democrats intended to pass legislation with large investments in affordable housing, eldercare, and a green sustainable economic system.As Congress approaches what is likely to be a chaotic July, such careful wordsmithing is necessary. To unlock their party's power to push through a bill with GOP votes and without scaring off Republicans, Democrats from both chambers must come together to create a budget blueprint.A Democrats-only reconciliation bill, which some lawmakers already believe could be their party's greatest achievement in over a decade, is at stake.The speaker stated that there are not many Democrats who would vote against childcare, early education, climate change, jobs, and extended child tax credit. Yarmuth stated that there aren't many Democrats who will vote against this.Brittany Gibson and Marianne LeVine contributed to this report.
