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THE BIG DEAL Bipartisan group says it s still on track after setback on Senate floor:
A bipartisan group of senators on Wednesday afternoon issued a joint statement declaring they’re still on track for completing work on a $1.2 trillion infrastructure package, even after the Senate voted earlier in the day to reject a motion to begin debate on the measure.
“We have made significant progress and are close to a final agreement. We will continue working hard to ensure we get this critical legislation right and are optimistic that we will finalize, and be prepared to advance, this historic bipartisan proposal to strengthen America’s infrastructure and create good-paying jobs in the coming days,” the group of 10 Republicans, 11 Democrats and one independent who caucuses with Democrats said in a statement.
US Infrastructure Bill Fails First Vote; Senate to Try Again
Voice of America
22 Jul 2021, 09:05 GMT+10
WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans rejected an effort Wednesday to begin debate on the big infrastructure deal that a bipartisan group of senators brokered with President Joe Biden. But supporters in both parties remained hopeful of a better chance soon.
Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York had scheduled the procedural vote that he described as a step to get the ball rolling as talks progress. But Republicans mounted a filibuster, saying the bipartisan group needed more time to wrap up the deal and review the details. They sought a delay until Monday.
House Appropriations State, Foreign Ops, and Related Programs Subcommittee holds hearing on Department of the Treasury Int Programs FY22 Budget Request
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen turned down a request from Senate Republicans who asked last week for a briefing behind closed doors on the debt ceiling as it s set to expire at the end of the month, passing on an opportunity for the Biden administration to sell the GOP on raising the limit.
Now, Republicans are saying Democrats will have to go it alone.
Last week, The Hill reported that a group of Senate GOP members led by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, sent a letter to Yellen, inviting the treasury secretary to speak privately to the entire Senate Republican Conference at the Senate GOP s Steering Committee lunch – away from the press and the fanfare that goes along with public hearings – to discuss the looming debt ceiling, along with inflation and other matters.
Paul Gigot interviews economist John Cogan
President Biden shot down calls to abolish the filibuster to clear the way for passage of the sweeping Democrat-backed elections overhaul, arguing that any effort to end use of the tactic despite a GOP outcry would jeopardize his entire legislative agenda. There’s no reason to protect it, other than you’re going to throw the entire Congress into chaos and nothing will get done, he said. Nothing at all will get done. There’s a lot at stake. The most important one is the right to vote, that’s the single most important one.
McConnell says GOP will not vote to raise debt ceiling, setting up clash in Congress kake.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kake.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.