Pelosi: ‘More Time Is Needed’, Admitting Defeat On Infrastructure Bill

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi drew up the white flag Friday night, admitting that “more time is needed” to pass a $1 trillion infrastructure bill that is among the pillars of President Biden’s agenda, after previously vowing to pass the measure this week.

Whereas Pelosi had promised moderate House Democrats the infrastructure bill would be on the floor, progressives threatened to sink it unless it was coupled with a $3.5 trillion spending measure, referred to as the Build Back Better Act, that features a wide range of social welfare programs.

Republicans are united against the larger bill, and Senate Democratic moderates Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona refused to support $3.5 trillion in new spending, which means the bill couldn’t pass the Senate. So it was no use for Pelosi to pass it in the House. And she was forced to cave on the infrastructure bill as a result of progressives insisted the other measure must be considered by the House too or they’d vote against the infrastructure bill.

The White House sought desperately all week to strike a deal with Manchin and Sinema on the Build Back Better bill, however without success.

‘While great progress has been made in the negotiations to develop a House, Senate and White House agreement on the Build Back Better Act, extra time is required to finish the task,” Pelosi wrote in Dear Colleague letter. “Our priority to create jobs in the health care, family and climate agendas is a shared value. Our Chairs are still working for clarity and consensus. Clearly, the Bipartisan Infrastructure bill will pass as soon as we’ve got agreement on the reconciliation bill.”

Pelosi had stated the infrastructure bill would pass. She initially indicated she would put it to a vote Thursday evening, however she didn’t. Then she stated it would be voted on Friday, however she was compelled to reverse course once more.

Following a meeting between President Biden and the Democratic caucus Friday, it was unclear when the House would revisit the measure again.