Days after Democrats took a beating in off-year elections, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is twisting the arms of holdout centrists in her party to vote Friday on a $1.75 trillion social welfare spending package.
A group of centrist Democrats from swing states say they are not ready to back the bill until they can review an analysis of the cost from the Congressional Budget Office. The effort, led by Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer, is part of a broader concern that Democratic centrists have been pushed too far to the left during the first 10 months of President Joe Biden’s administration after the longtime officeholder pledged to govern as a consensus-builder.
Their hesitancy has put the vote on hold, with Pelosi hoping to wrap up Friday and pass the $1.2 trillion infrastructure measure.
According to Democratic leaders, the CBO will not have the cost analysis ready on Friday, which could lead to a third House delay in passing a piece of President Joe Biden’s economic agenda. Centrist Democrats say they shouldn’t be forced to commit to a massive spending bill without knowing the price tag — particularly because that information will be available to senators if and when they vote on the final version of the bill.
The uncertainty comes after a poor Democratic showing in Tuesday’s election. In Virginia, Republican businessman Glenn Youngkin won the governorship over Democratic rival Terry McAuliffe seeking a second term. Virginia had not elected a Republican to statewide office since 2009. GOP candidates also won the lieutenant governor and state attorney general races in Virginia and likely captured a majority in the state House of Delegates.
In New Jersey, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy barely won reelection over an underfunded opponent in a state where Biden defeated then-President Donald Trump 57% to 41% in 2020.
Late Thursday, Pelosi worked to convince centrists the social welfare spending package would be offset and reduce the deficit, touting a new White House analysis and estimate produced by the Joint Committee on Taxation.
According to the new White House estimate, the measure would raise $480 billion through stepped-up tax collection, $640 billion through taxing high-income earners, and nearly $800 billion from corporate tax and international tax reforms.
Pelosi has worked to win enough Democratic votes to pass the bill since last month and is aiming for another attempt Friday.
But some Democrats remain skeptical.
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The election has left centrists skittish on passing the massive spending bill, which critics argue will worsen inflation and slow the economic recovery.
“It may take a little while to work through the hiccups,” House Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern, a Massachusetts Democrat, told reporters.
Some liberal Democrats were frustrated with centrists for delaying the bill over the CBO score.
“It’s difficult to justify,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat.
Democrats cannot spare more than a handful of votes if they hope to pass the bill, as Republicans unanimously oppose it.
The measure would raise revenue through new tax increases on the wealthy and enhanced IRS enforcement. The package would provide free preschool, extend the child tax credit, provide expanded healthcare subsidies, money for the elderly and disabled, and implement green energy policies. It would also provide four weeks of paid family and medical leave.
“Everyone wants to get the job done,” said Rep. Kurt Schrader, an Oregon centrist who has met with Pelosi. “It’s just a question of working it through. It’s always tough.”
