With Infrastructure Win, Democrats Eye Bumpy Road On Spending Bill
Late Friday night, the House approved the $1 trillion infrastructure bill and sent it to President Joe Biden to sign. Its companion -- the social spending package that could shake up health care programs -- still faces big hurdles in both chambers as Democrats try to navigate fractious factions and a slim majority.
The Hill:
Spending Bill Faces Senate Scramble
President Biden’s climate and social spending bill is facing the threat of changes in the Senate as Democrats navigate a slim majority and tricky budget rules. Even as House Democrats have spent days agonizing over trying to work out an agreement that could win over nearly all of their members — ultimately punting until at least mid-November as moderates push for an analysis of the bill — Senate Democrats are warning that it is likely to change once it reaches their chamber. The bill faces multipronged challenges in the Senate: An even narrower majority, complex rules governing what can be in the legislation and a chaotic process that lets Republicans try to peel off enough Democrats to inject changes into the legislation or sink it altogether. (Carney, 11/7)
The Wall Street Journal:
Biden Gets $1 Trillion Down Payment On Domestic Agenda; Obstacles Loom For Spending Bill
President Biden notched a big win with the House passage of the $1 trillion public-works bill late Friday, but political obstacles loom ahead for the White House as attention shifts to an even bigger spending bill and next year’s midterm elections. Congress is set to take a weeklong recess and return on Nov. 15 with a litany of items to complete in short order to avert a government shutdown and move forward on the roughly $2 trillion education, healthcare and climate package that has proven difficult to negotiate with the party’s slim majority in Congress. (Timiraos, Andrews and Talley, 11/7)
AP:
Biden Hails Infrastructure Win As 'Monumental Step Forward'
President Joe Biden on Saturday hailed Congress’ passage of his $1 trillion infrastructure package as a “monumental step forward for the nation” after fractious fellow Democrats resolved a months-long standoff in their ranks to seal the deal. “Finally, infrastructure week,” a beaming Biden told reporters. “I’m so happy to say that: infrastructure week.” (Fram and Mill, 11/6)
Reuters:
U.S. Democrats Pass $1 Trillion Infrastructure Bill, Ending Daylong Standoff
After a daylong standoff, Democrats set aside divisions between progressives and centrists to pass a $1 trillion package of highway, broadband and other infrastructure improvement, sending it on to President Joe Biden to sign into law. The 228-to-206 vote late on Friday is a substantial triumph for Biden's Democrats, who have bickered for months over the ambitious spending bills that make up the bulk of his domestic agenda. (Cornwell and Brice, 11/6)
Politico:
'Whole Day Was A Clusterf---': Dems Overcome Distrust To Send Infrastructure Bill To Biden
The truce bore fruit late, as the House cleared a $550 billion infrastructure bill for President Joe Biden's signature just before midnight and moved ahead on Democrats' $1.75 trillion social spending package. Those two milestones capped off a frantic and nearly disastrous day for the party, ending what has proved to be Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s most grueling exercise yet so far this Congress with just three votes to lose. “The whole day was a clusterfuck, right?” said senior progressive Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), who helped negotiate the rapprochement with the moderates. “At the end of the day what we all want to do is get the president’s agenda done, and that’s what we’re going to do.” (Caygle, Ferris, Wu and Beavers, 11/5)
CNN:
Gottheimer Says He Expects To Move Forward On Social Spending Bill If CBO Score Matches
Rep. Josh Gottheimer, the Democratic co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, indicated Sunday that he wants to wait for an official cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office before moving forward on President Joe Biden's economic agenda bill."I think what's most important for people to understand is, the responsible thing to do when you get a piece of legislation like this is to do a full analysis and to understand the impact on your district and the families in your district. And that's what I'm looking at, to make sure that when we vote for this and give the country this win that we deliver the way we should deliver," the New Jersey Democrat told CNN's Dana Bash on "State of the Union," also expressing optimism that the bill would be fully paid for. (Stracqualursi, 11/7)
CNBC:
Medicare Has Coverage Gaps Despite Congressional Effort To Expand It
If Democratic lawmakers get their way, Medicare will start covering hearing services for the first time in the program’s history. The coverage, which would take effect in 2023, is included in Democrats’ proposed $1.85 trillion spending bill, dubbed the Build Back Better Act and aimed partly at strengthening the social safety net. The legislative package still needs approval in both the House and Senate before it could be signed into law by President Joe Biden. (O'Brien, 11/6)
