- The House passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill (BIF) late Friday night.
- The infrastructure vote was 228-206 with 13 Republican lawmakers joining most House Democrats. Six progressive Democrats voted against the bill.
- The total size of the bill is $1.2 trillion, but less than half of the bill — $550 billion — is new spending. The remainder is spending already planned for.
Joseph Zeballos-Roig of Business Insider writes:
“The House late Friday approved a $550 billion infrastructure bill aimed at restoring roads, bridges and broadband connections after a prolonged stretch of Democratic infighting, locking in a major legislative achievement for President Joe Biden. Over a dozen Republican lawmakers also lent crucial votes to secure its passage as well.
It capped a dramatic showdown within the party over a larger $1.75 trillion social spending and climate bill to expand healthcare, childcare and overhaul tax laws, likely foreshadowing more political turbulence in the weeks ahead. Democrats had set out to pass both, but a centrist revolt stymied passage of the social legislation.
The infrastructure vote was 228-206 with 13 Republican lawmakers joining most House Democrats.
…
A small group of centrists refused to support the larger spending bill without an economic analysis from the Congressional Budget Office, the nonpartisan scorekeeper. That caused House Speaker Nancy Pelosi moved to shelve plans to pass the measure and instead set up a procedural vote advancing it since the CBO report wasn’t expected for another two weeks.
…
Not every Democrat was happy with the arrangement. Six progressives voted against the infrastructure bill arguing it would sever the link with the social plan. These lawmakers included Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Jamaal Bowman of New York, and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, and Cori Bush of Missouri.”
See full story here.
Categories: Government, Infrastructure, Politics
Economic Left 
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