WASHINGTON â Senate Republicans rejected an effort to begin debate on the big infrastructure deal that a bipartisan group of senators brokered with President Joe Biden, but pressure was mounting as supporters insisted they just needed more time before another vote possibly next week.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., had scheduled the procedural vote Wednesday to nudge along negotiations that have dragged for weeks. But Republicans mounted a filibuster, saying the bipartisan group still had a few unresolved issues and needed to review the final details. They sought a delay until Monday.
âWe have made significant progress and are close to a final agreement,â the bipartisan group of senators, 11 Republicans and 11 Democrats, said in a joint statement after the vote. The senators said they were optimistic they could finish up âin the coming days.â
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GOP blocks debate from starting on bipartisan infrastructure deal
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The party-line vote was 51-49 against proceeding, far short of the 60 yes votes needed to get past the Republicans block. The Democratic leader switched his vote to no at the end, a procedural step that would allow him to move to reconsider.
The nearly $1 trillion measure over five years includes about $579 billion in new spending on roads, broadband and other public works projects a first phase of Biden s infrastructure agenda, to be followed by a much broader $3.5 trillion second measure from Democrats next month.
Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, a lead negotiator, flashed a thumbs up sign as he ducked into a private lunch before the vote, indicating the senators had sent Schumer a letter seeking more time. We will be ready by the end of this week, he said during a CNBC interview.