House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) hardline tactics and failure to strike a deal with moderate Democrats led to a stalled vote on the party’s infrastructure agenda Monday evening.
House moderate Democrats have moved to have an immediate vote on the so-called bipartisan infrastructure bill, otherwise known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The moderate Democrats hope to use the passage of the $1.2 trillion bill to reassure their voters ahead of the contentious 2022 midterm elections.
Moderates hope to secure a promise from Pelosi on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act before voting to advance the $3.5 trillion budget; the House planned to vote on the rule that would allow for consideration of the budget resolution Monday, but the moderate Democrats’ resistance led to Pelosi to delay the vote.
(L-R) U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) talk to reporters after a bipartisan group of Senators and White House officials came to an agreement over the Biden administrations proposed infrastructure plan at the U.S. Capitol on June 23, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
Reps. Carolyn Bourdeaux (D-GA), Ed Case (D-HI), Jim Costa (D-CA), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Jared Golden (D-ME), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Kurt Schrader (D-OR), Filemon Vela (D-FL), have served as part of the group leading the resistance against Pelosi. Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL) joined the group of moderates revolting against Pelosi.
Politico wrote Tuesday that Pelosi can only afford to lose three votes to pass the rule on the budget resolution and that she largely underestimated moderate Democrats [emphasis added]:
— Right now, there is no deal. And while it appears that some moderates are open to this possible accord, others want to hold the line for better terms. Heather and Sarah report that as many as five moderates are still opposed to the tentative detente — and Pelosi can lose only three.
One thing is for sure: House Democratic leaders grossly underestimated their centrists. As Roll Call’s Lindsey McPherson tweeted Monday night, “these talks could’ve happened earlier, but leadership clearly thought they’d get moderates to fold to their pressure campaign. But the moderates held firm and have a lot of leverage now.”
“Who’s laughing now? Gottheimer went from “amateur hour” to man of the hour. He was at the center of attention trying to strike a deal all night. And he planted a flag in the ground for the fights to come as Democrats haggle over the details of the reconciliation package,” Politico noted.
Sean Moran is a congressional reporter for Breitbart News. Follow him on Twitter @SeanMoran3.
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