Today, September 27, was supposed to mark the day that Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) managed to get a floor vote for the bipartisan infrastructure bill, which had passed the Senate earlier. His goal was to separate the bipartisan bill from the larger reconciliation bill in order for him and his allies to pass the smaller one while attempting to water down or kill it. This goal has been made explicit by the dark-money group No Labels, which is supporting his effort. Gottheimer was granted a vote by Nancy Pelosi. But, it is important to note that he did not win the promise of a winning vote. The Congressional Progressive Caucus formed a bloc of its members and vowed to vote against the infrastructure bill unless it was larger. 22 House Democrats declared that they would withhold their votes. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and 10 Democrats supported them. It took the media a while to get on board, but they finally understood that it was not a simple matter. These people are serious. Pelosi sent a letter last night announcing that the vote would not be carried. The debate on the bill will begin today. However, the vote has been rescheduled to Thursday.
In years gone by, progressives wouldn't have been able make a credible threat enough to win the vote. What's the difference this time? One, primaries are important. In 2020, progressives defeated a few corporate Democrats and won open primaries. It doesn't explain why progressives still have a structural disadvantage. They want to pass laws, while centrists prefer not passing any legislation. Because they have to choose between getting some or nothing, progressives are often left with little leverage. This is exactly what happened with Affordable Care Act. Progressives pledged that they would not support a health-care bill without a strong public option. In the end, they were told that this bill will give insurance to 20-25 million more people and expand Medicaid. However, it does not have a public option. Is that a yes or no? If given the choice, a progressive member will vote yes 99 percent of the time.
This time, the corporate Democrats want something. They put in a lot of effort to create the bipartisan infrastructure bill. It includes many corrupt giveaways that their financial backers truly want. Here's Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. He spoke to Sahil Kapur, NBC News reporter, about how the rump senators who are all pro fossil-fuel, have written virtually nothing that will reduce transportation pollution. I'm trying to make reconciliation work. They took all of our climate provisions out. They cut my electric bus program and then said, "Oh, and one third of the money must be spent on fossil fuel buses." They are such jerks, the industry could have written their bill.
@RepPeterDeFazio, House Transportation Chair, on Senate infrastructure bill. The crap that those 12 rump senators wrote, which are all pro-fossil fuel, does almost nothing to reduce transportation's fossil fuel pollution. I am trying to make reconciliation work. Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur), September 22, 2021
DeFazio's BIF: They took out all our climate provisions. They cut my electric bus program and then said that a third must be spent on fossil fuel buses. They're so jerks, the industry could have written their bill.
Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-N.Y.), a Democratic Representative, criticized the influence of Instagram on the industry when she was asked if she would be willing to kill the bipartisan bill if it did not come with the other.
Rep. AOC is a NO on Infrastructure without Reconciliation.
"It would be more fun to tank a billionaire, black money, fossil fuel, Exxon lobbyist-drafted bill 'energy' infrastructure bill, if they want to pursue our child care or climate priorities."
Video via source: pic.twitter.com/ZR2nGP58BM Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) September 9, 2021
