www.theguardian.com
Democrats to resume crunch talks on Biden agenda as progressives hold line
Centrists appear on back foot after Pelosi forced to postpone key infrastructure vote while negotiations on social and environmental package continue
Politics
A bitterly divided Democratic party was set to resume talks on Joe Biden’s legislative agenda on Friday with progressives confident they are gaining momentum and centrists apparently on the back foot.
A vote on the $1tn bipartisan infrastructure bill was delayed late on Thursday night despite a promise by the House of Representatives speaker, Nancy Pelosi, to centrists that she would bring it to the floor.
The move represented a victory for progressives who stood firm in warning that they would vote against the bill unless they get a firm commitment that Biden’s $3.5tn social and environmental package will also pass.
The wrangling between the White House, Senate and House was due to resume “first thing” on Friday, the White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, said, insisting that “we are closer to an agreement than ever”.
But Thursday’s stalemate after long hours of negotiation exposed ideological fractures in the party, which holds razor-thin majorities in both chambers and can expect little support from Republicans.