House Speaker Nancy Pelosi refused to promise a vote this week on a $1.75 trillion social welfare spending package and an infrastructure bill that together comprise President Joe Biden’s economic agenda.
Democratic lawmakers have struggled to come to an agreement on the package for weeks, and House Democrats have delayed two attempts to advance the legislation in recent weeks because of intraparty opposition over provisions some lawmakers believe should be included.
Thursday’s House floor schedule leaves open a possible vote on the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill and the social welfare package, but Pelosi declined to say whether it will happen.
“We’ll keep you informed,” Pelosi told reporters. “Stay tuned.”
Pelosi told Democrats in the meeting she hopes to vote on the social welfare spending package as early as Thursday, with a vote on the infrastructure bill on Friday.
The Senate passed the infrastructure bill during the summer, which means House approval will send the measure to Biden’s desk and provide the president and Democrats with a much-needed legislative victory following the party’s dismal performance in Tuesday’s elections.
Lawmakers have negotiated the terms of the social welfare spending package for several weeks, whittling it down from a much larger $3.5 trillion bill to a measure now half the size. Democrats fought to add back in paid family leave and some other provisions but on a much smaller scale.
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Pelosi said Democrats are poring over the text of the bill.
“Our members are engaged in very thoughtful deliberation with each other,” she told reporters after a closed-door meeting with fellow Democrats. “We made some changes since last week. People need to familiarize themselves with it.”
Some lawmakers want an analysis from the Congressional Budget Office before debating and voting on the legislation.
“We are going to pass both bills, but in order to do so, we need to have votes on both bills,” Pelosi said.
Earlier Thursday, an analysis from the Joint Committee on Taxation found that tax hikes in the social welfare spending package would raise $1.5 trillion over the next decade.
“This document is an objective view that it is solidly paid for,” Pelosi told reporters.
