Biden Wants Vote on Infrastructure Bill

Punchbowl News: “President Joe Biden was supposed to leave for Rome early this morning. But instead, he’ll come to the Capitol at 9 a.m. to ask progressive House Democrats to do the one thing they’ve always hesitated to do — trust him.”

“Biden’s main message this morning as he heads to HC-5 — the basement room in the Capitol — seems to be this: the Build Back Better negotiations are continuing and a deal is close. But House Democrats should vote for the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill now and trust him to deliver on the larger social spending package later.”

“This is Biden’s second trip to meet with House Democrats on the bipartisan infrastructure bill, and he could end up with the same result as last time: leaving empty handed. It’s surprising that a president would take that gamble again. But the reality is that Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic leadership are stuck.”

Playbook: “A worst-case scenario for Biden remains possible: a second trip up Pennsylvania Avenue that ends in embarrassment, arrival at the climate conference with big promises not backed up by congressional action, and a defeat in Virginia on Tuesday that, in the words of one House Democrat, would ‘send front-liners heading for the hills’ and possibly imperil both bills.”