Progressives Ready to Give In

Punchbowl News: “After weeks of saying that they wouldn’t vote for the bipartisan infrastructure bill until they get ironclad assurances that Manchin and Sinema will back the Build Back Better Act, leading House progressives now say they’re ready to vote for both this week. Speaker Nancy Pelosi told her leadership team that the Rules Committee could meet Wednesday on this legislation, signaling a possible floor vote by the end of the week on BBB and the bipartisan infrastructure bill.”

“Progressives, who had been holding the line successfully for weeks, have softened their opposition, in part because they don’t want to be blamed for the continued delay in advancing President Joe Biden’s legislative agenda, especially following last week’s debacle over the bipartisan infrastructure bill.”

Playbook: “Why the sudden change? With a Democratic defeat in Virginia’s gubernatorial race today now looking like a real possibility, nobody wants to be blamed for a loss.”