Topline
As President Joe Biden tries to reach an agreement between moderates, progressives and a key spending bill before a Thursday vote on an additional infrastructure bill, he will be staying at the White House Wednesday.
WASHINGTON DC, 26 SEPTBER: U.S. President Joe Biden answers questions from reporters after spending the weekend at Camp David, September 26, 2021, in Washington, DC. As the deadline for debt ceiling negotiations nears, the president returns to Washington. Meanwhile, Congress is still working on a huge infrastructure bill. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images). Getty Images
The Key Facts
According to a White House official, the Chicago trip to promote private-sector vaccination mandates will be rescheduled. Biden will also continue to work on both a $1.2 billion core infrastructure bill and a larger social funding package. According to the official, Biden had been communicating with Congress members on both bills through meetings and calls in the past few days. Sen. Kyrsten Silena (D-Ariz.), made three visits to the White House Tuesday alone. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), a Democrat who has called for a reduction in the $3.5 trillion price tag on the social spending bill, met with Biden on Tuesday. However, he stated to reporters that he does not yet have a proposal as to how much spending the bill should include. House progressives insist that the social spending package which Democrats want to pass unilaterally through reconciliation should be passed through both chambers before being considered for infrastructure votes. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), claiming to have dozens votes to sink the infrastructure bill has stated that he believes the vote will be delayed. He told Forbes, "Were not even at a location where we have a number, let alone a bill." Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), who claims to have dozens of votes to sink the infrastructure bill, has stated that he believes the vote will be delayed. Forbes was told by the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that they plan to vote on infrastructure first. Moderate Rep. Josh Gottheimer(D-N.J.), said that he is optimistic that Thursday's vote will take place and that the bill will pass.
Big Number
8. This is the number of House Republicans that have indicated they will vote for the infrastructure bill. Forbes was told Tuesday by several GOP members from the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, moderate Republican Governance Group and others that they are still undecided. Jayapal claims she has about 50 votes against this bill.
Important Quote
The White House is doing an amazing job right now, I believe. Gottheimer, the Democratic cochair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, said that he knows they are when asked by Forbes about the White House's role in negotiations.
