House Democratic leaders moved President Joe Biden’s budget resolution forward Tuesday after striking a deal with moderates. The compromise led to a 220-212 vote for taking the first step to draft the $3.5 trillion budget resolution in the fall. The video above shows the results of the vote, as well as some of the debate on Capitol Hill.
Late last week, nine moderate Democrats signed a letter raising their objections to pushing ahead with the budget resolution before first approving the $1 trillion infrastructure bill the Senate passed earlier this month. Other moderates have raised similar concerns in the days since. “I think it’s important to those of us who are moderate Democrats to make sure that our voices are heard,” said Rep. Jim Costa, D-Calif.
This drew the ire of progressives, who said the moderates were trying to obstruct President Biden’s agenda. Groups like the Justice Democrats started running campaign ads. Members of Our Revolution, the organization aligned with Bernie Sanders, protested Tuesday outside the New Jersey office of moderate democrat, Congressman Josh Gottheimer.
As part of the compromise with moderates, Houser Speaker Nancy Pelosi promised to vote on the $1 trillion bill by Sept. 27 at the latest. However, she will still work to move the $3.5 trillion budget resolution simultaneously. Her goal for passing both is Oct. 1.
“I thank Congressman Gottheimer and others for their enthusiastic support for the infrastructure bill and know that they also share in the Build Back Better vision of President Biden,” Pelosi said in a statement.
House committees are already working on drafting legislation to fill in the details of the $3.5 trillion budget resolution.
Republicans are fully opposed to the president’s infrastructure plans, arguing that Congress should instead be focused on the crisis in Afghanistan.
“As I watch other countries and our allies across this world bring their bodies back together of government to work on how to bring their citizens home, the Democrats bring us back to spend trillions of dollars,” Rep Kevin McCarthy said Tuesday. “The only thing the Republicans are focused on right now is getting every American out.”
