Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats are edging closer to a spending deal following a closed-door meeting on Tuesday, but he was far vaguer on reaching a deal than House Democrats who claim an accord will happen by midweek.
“We’re still working, and we are closer to reaching a final agreement on President Biden’s Build Back Better plan,” said the New York lawmaker.
Schumer described private talks among Democrats on Tuesday as “really good, vigorous discussions” about the cost and size of a social welfare package that has remained stalled for weeks over intraparty disagreements.
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Earlier on Tuesday, top House Democrats said a framework agreement on the spending plan would come in a matter of hours or at least by midweek.
“There’s not that much more time,” Pelosi told reporters Tuesday morning. “We have to have decisions largely today or a little bit into tomorrow so we can proceed.”
Schumer spoke with far less certainty and gave no deadline.
“We’re making progress,” Schumer said.
Senate Democrats have not reached an agreement on whether to expand Medicare benefits or on green energy provisions.
Democrats are also debating whether to include new IRS reporting requirements that would affect many bank accounts.
Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia centrist who is playing a leading role in shaping the final agreement, criticized a plan to allow the IRS access to bank accounts that complete $10,000 transactions.
“We’re talking about that issue and many others, and we’re moving towards finding sweet spots in every one of the disputed issues,” Schumer said.
House Democrats are racing to complete an accord on the social welfare spending package by the end of the month.
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Democratic leaders told reporters on Tuesday they want the House to approve a Senate-passed bipartisan infrastructure bill that liberal Democrats are blocking in order to ensure the social welfare package is completed.
The infrastructure measure and the social welfare spending bill are the centerpiece of Biden’s economic agenda.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, told reporters a deal could be completed Tuesday.
“I think it could come together quickly, in the next few hours,” Hoyer said.
