Schumer forces procedural vote to compromise infrastructure plan, jeopardizes bipartisan bill

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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer forces a procedural vote on a bipartisan infrastructure bill that has not been completed on Wednesday afternoon, potentially setting back negotiations if Republicans follow through on their threats to vote against a bill that “does not yet exist.”

“I think it wouldn’t be a hard vote for nearly all Republicans to decide that we’re not going to vote to move forward on a bill that doesn’t yet exist,” said Senator Roy Blunt, Republican of Mo. Tuesday. “That’s not a very high standard to set.”

There is concern about Schumer’s deadline Wednesday among the most moderate Republicans in the Senate, indicating that the bipartisan infrastructure vehicle is unlikely to get 60 votes — which means at least 10 Republican votes — to initiate the debate.

Blunt’s criticism came against Schumer’s schedule, DN.Y. , following comments this week from Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, saying she hopes “Schumer will postpone the vote until next week.” As Senator Bill Cassidy, Republican of Los Angeles, said, “Unless Schumer wants that to happen, you need more time to get it right.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, DNY, praises his Democratic Party at a news conference after the Senate narrowly approved a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, at the Washington Capitol, Saturday, March 6, 2021. Schumer forces controversial To break the delay to advance the bipartisan infrastructure bill debate on Wednesday, despite the fact that the legislative text has yet to be written. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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“The pessimist would say so,” Cassidy added on Monday when asked if Schumer was trying to eliminate bipartisan efforts so Democrats could move on to their massive $3.5 trillion spending plan through reconciliation. “I hope the cynic is wrong.”

Even if the vote were to succeed, the Senate would still face multiple steps to get to the final passage, including a stroke vote to end the debate, meaning Republicans would still be able to block the final product. Because of that, Schumer maintains, he is forcing the vote now simply to urge the moderate senators negotiating the legislation to move faster.

“This is not a deadline for the legislative text,” Schumer said on the Senate floor on Tuesday. “It’s not a spoof.” “It’s not a catch-or-cut moment. It’s not an attempt to confuse anyone. It’s just a signal that the Senate is ready to begin the process — something the Senate has routinely done on other bipartisan bills public.”

Some moderates involved in the negotiations point out that if the vote fails, the bill could be put to a vote again when the text is completed.

“I hope they continue,” Virginia Democratic Senator Tim Kaine added of the state of the negotiations if Wednesday’s vote fails. “

Senator Mitt Romney of Utah said negotiations “of course” must continue if the infrastructure vote fails. Cassidy also said he believes negotiations will continue even if the stroke vote fails.

There is also hope among concerned senators that agreement not only on the framework for the bill but also on the details – including payments and policy details – could be reached sometime on Wednesday. This does not mean that there will be a legislative text for Republicans to vote on. But it would represent a significant advance in the negotiations that could allow for a successful subsequent vote in the coming days.

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“I really think tomorrow — it’s going to happen because we’re so close,” Democratic Senator John Tester said Tuesday night. “If this thing works right, then we should be, we should be done with this thing by noon.”

The bipartisan infrastructure framework includes hard infrastructure projects that Republicans said they could support, such as roads, bridges, public transportation, water and broadband. These items were essentially cut from the rest of the Democrats’ agenda, which Schumer and Senate Democrats plan to advance separately via budget reconciliation, allowing them to bypass the 60-vote stall and thus pass the legislation without any GOP votes.

“Not a single Republican in the House or in the Senate is going to pay or vote for this reckless tax and spending bill. There isn’t one,” Senate Republican Convention Chairman John Barrasso said Tuesday of the Democrats’ reconciliation. law Project. “To get this bill, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer have to get every Democrat on their feet.”

Meanwhile, some Liberal Democrats are eager to dispense with the bipartisan feud in the Senate over infrastructure and move to reconciliation efforts. Rep. Peter DeFazio, a Democrat from Ur state, said earlier this week that “everything falling apart is probably the best thing,” according to Politico.

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The main bipartisan procedural vote on the bill is scheduled to take place shortly after 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. Blunt said Tuesday that what Schumer does if the vote fails could reflect how serious he is to get the Senate to pass a bipartisan infrastructure bill.

“I don’t know if this is an attempt to kill or speed up the bipartisan effort of the bill. If it is an attempt to do anything but kill the bipartisan effort, the majority leader could easily accept a vote that does not go to the bill and be willing to put it forward in quick time,” Blunt said In the future “.

“All he has to do is change his vote to the mainstream side and be willing to bring that up at a later time,” Blunt added, referring to a procedural trick that Schumer could use to keep his options open to call the bill back for another vote. .

Fox News’ Carolyn McKee, Chad Bergram, Megan Heaney, and Jason Donner contributed to this report.

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