Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi previously reiterated that the House will not take up a vote on the infrastructure bill unless another Democratic-led bill was passed through the Senate by reconciliation. Following the sudden passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill in the Senate, Pelosi has dismissed calls from the moderate faction of Democrats of an immediate vote.
During a conference call with the Democratic caucus this week, Pelosi announced that the House will not take up a vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill this month, dismissing the calls from moderate Democrats to take up a vote immediately. This announcement was to be expected as Pelosi made clear months prior that the House will not vote on the infrastructure bill unless the Democrats in the Senate passed another bill through reconciliation. The bill had a price tag of $3.5 trillion that was unveiled this week and also passed without the need for Republican votes.
The strategy was supported by the progressive faction of Democrats who do not trust some of their counterparts in the Senate that are on the centrist spectrum, looking to use the infrastructure bill as leverage. According to someone familiar with the call, Pelosi steered in favor of the liberal Democrats when she made the announcement.
Nevertheless, Pelosi praised US President Joe Biden and the Senate for being able to pass the infrastructure bill with bipartisan support. 19 Republican Senators voted in favor of the bill that had the unanimous backing of Senate Democrats. Pelosi also noted that what is included in the bipartisan bill is not enough to address the other challenges in the country from wealth inequality to healthcare disparities, and climate change to name a few.
Meanwhile, Pelosi’s office ripped into the Republican Party for the increasing attacks on Capitol Police officers. This follows the lashing out of disgraced, former President Donald Trump regarding the police officer who shot insurrectionist Ashlii Babbitt, one of the fatalities from the riots last January 6. The statement also called out the inaction taken by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
“Enough is enough. These attacks are disgusting, wrong, and a wholly unacceptable way to treat the men and women who went through hell to protect our democracy from armed insurrectionists,” said Pelosi’s spokesperson Robyn Patterson in a statement.
“It’s long overdue for Minority Leader McCarthy to get off his hands and stand up to the members of his conference and party who have been terrorizing the brave officers that saved the lives of countless workers, staff, journalists, and Members on January 6th. It is no less than these heroes deserve,” added Patterson.