With key Senate absence, Democrats forced to shelve their most partisan bills

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The contentious and partisan $2.4 trillion Build Back Better plan congressional Democrats want to enact is out. Strong bipartisan majorities for bills to make it easier for sexual assault and harassment victims to sue and to reform the U.S. Postal Service are in.

Congressional Democrats, who hold slim majorities in the House and Senate, haven’t exactly had a “Kumbaya” moment with Republicans, who are working hard to win control of both chambers in November. But it’s the new political reality on Capitol Hill, at least until the return of Sen. Ben Ray Lujan. The New Mexico Democrat was hospitalized in late January after suffering a stroke, planning to return to the Senate next month. In the meantime, Senate Democrats only have 49 members who can vote, compared to 50 Republicans.

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