Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Weekend Work Clears Senate Path To Final Infrastructure Bill Vote
Politico: Biden's Infrastructure Bill On Cruise Control To Senate Passage
President Joe Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure deal cleared its final serious Senate hurdle Sunday night, putting the legislation on a glide path to passage as soon as late Monday. In a 68-29 vote, the Senate closed down debate on a bill negotiated by a bipartisan group of 10 senators that spends $550 billion in new money on the nation’s physical infrastructure. Sunday’s vote came after senators spent the weekend haggling over amendments and time agreements to consider them. (Everett and Levine, 8/8)
The New York Times: Senate Works On Infrastructure ‘The Old-Fashioned Way’: Painfully Slow
As senators spent the first Sunday of what was supposed to be their summer break casting evening votes on a $1 trillion infrastructure bill whose passage now seems all but assured, it was hard not to notice the frustration setting in. An unfamiliar activity was afoot in the usually paralyzed Senate: A bipartisan bill had actually made it to the floor, and a freewheeling debate on it was underway. But as the process plodded into its second week, the glacial pace of legislating was on vivid display. It was taking forever. (Cochrane and Broadwater, 8/8)
The Hill: Senate Votes To End Debate On $1T Infrastructure Bill
The Senate on Sunday night voted to end debate on a roughly $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, putting it on a glide path, albeit a lengthy one, to passing this week. Senators voted 68-29 to end debate on the bill, which required 60 votes. Eighteen GOP senators joined with all Democrats to help advance the legislation. (Carney, 8/8)
AP: Infrastructure Senators Bush Off Criticism From Left, Right
Often elusive, the political center is holding steady in the Senate as a coalition of Democratic and Republican senators brushes off critics to push the $1 trillion infrastructure package toward final passage. On the left, the Democrats have withstood the complaints of liberals who say the proposal falls short of what’s needed to provide a down payment on one of President Joe Biden’s top priorities. (Mascaro, 8/9)
In related news about covid's economic toll —
CNBC: Biden Warns Of Economic Peril From Covid Despite July Job Gains
President Joe Biden resisted the temptation to take a victory lap Friday following the release of strong July jobs numbers, instead telling the country that rising Covid cases pose an urgent threat to the economic recovery. “My message today is not one of celebration,” Biden said in remarks at the White House. “It is one to remind us that we have a lot of hard work left to be done, both to beat the delta variant and to continue the advance of our economic recovery.” (Wilkie, 8/6)
The Washington Post: For First Time, Average Pay For Supermarket And Restaurant Workers Tops $15 An Hour
The U.S. labor market hit a new milestone recently: For the first time, average pay in restaurants and supermarkets climbed above $15 an hour. Wages have been rising rapidly as the economy reopens and businesses struggle to hire enough workers. Some of the biggest gains have gone to workers in some of the lowest-paying industries. Overall, nearly 80 percent of U.S. workers now earn at least $15 an hour, up from 60 percent in 2014. (Van Dam and Long, 8/8)
