House Democrats push for twin votes despite Manchin doubts over spending bill – live | US news

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15:03

House Democratic caucus chair Hakeem Jeffries was asked whether he believes Joe Manchin is working in good faith in the negotiations over the reconciliation package, after the senator’s critical comments yesterday.

“The Senate is the Senate, and it’s the price that we pay for the democracy that we have in America,” Jeffries said at a press conference.

“I take every single senator in good faith, in terms of comments that they’ve put into the public domain. I also believe that all 50 of them do want to get the Build Back Better Act over the finish line, and I remain convinced of that fact.”

The Recount
(@therecount)

Reporter on spending bill negotiations: “Do you feel like [Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV)] is doing this in good faith …?”

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY): “The Senate is the Senate … I take every single senator in good faith.” pic.twitter.com/T2cbWm5pUI

November 2, 2021











14:40

Leaving the House Democratic caucus meeting, speaker Nancy Pelosi said she believed the outstanding issues with the reconciliation package could be addressed today.

“I’m not announcing a vote,” Pelosi told reporters. “But I did say it would be, could be resolved by the end of the day.”

Haley Talbot
(@haleytalbotnbc)

.@SpeakerPelosi post Dem caucus meeting this am: “I’m not announcing a vote but I do think it could be resolved by the end of the day.” (via @KyleAlexStewart) pic.twitter.com/nVEygCBnty

November 2, 2021

However, Democrats still need to reach a consensus on issues like prescription drug pricing, immigration and Medicare expansion, so it will be a heavy lift to wrap up the work on the reconciliation bill today.

Pelosi and her team are still hoping that the House can hold votes on the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the reconciliation package later this week.











14:20

Martin Pengelly

Glenn Youngkin may be riding a wave of “white backlash” all the way to the Virginia governor’s mansion, a leading polling expert in the state said, as the Republican led the former governor Terry McAuliffe into election day.

Asked why education was a key factor in Youngkin’s stronger-than-expected showing in a state recently dominated by Democrats, Larry Sabato of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia said: “One of the candidates decided it was his ticket to the governor’s mansion and he may well be right.”

Speaking to MSNBC, Sabato pointed to the core of Youngkin’s appeal on education: a promise to ban critical race theory in schools. Critical race theory, or CRT, is an academic discipline that examines the ways in which racism operates in US laws and society. It is not taught in Virginia schools, regardless of Youngkin’s promise to ban it.

“The operative word is not critical,” Sabato said. “And it’s not theory. It’s race. What a shock, huh? Race. That is what matters. And that’s why it’s sticks.

“There’s a lot of, we can call it white backlash, white resistance, whatever you want to call it. It has to do with race. And so we live in a post-factual era … It doesn’t matter that [CRT] isn’t taught in Virginia schools. It’s this generalised attitude that whites are being put upon and we’ve got to do something about it. We being white voters.”











13:59

Virginia heads to the polls in closely watched gubernatorial race

Virginia voters are going to the polls today to decide who will be their next governor: Democrat Terry McAuliffe or Republican Glenn Youngkin.

McAuliffe, who previously served as governor from 2014 to 2018, had widely been considered the favorite in the race in the months leading up to Election Day.




Terry McAuliffe greets supporters during a campaign event in Fairfax, Virginia.

 Terry McAuliffe greets supporters during a campaign event in Fairfax, Virginia. Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images

But recent surveys have shown McAuliffe and Youngkin running neck and neck, and the 538 polling average now has the Republican leading by 1 point.

Joe Biden won Virginia by 10 points last year, but historically, the president’s party loses the state’s gubernatorial seat in its off-year election. Since the 1970’s, only one candidate has defied that trend: McAuliffe in 2013.

The blog will be keeping a close eye on the race throughout the day, so stay tuned.











13:41

House speaker Nancy Pelosi told her caucus that she is looking to finish talks on the reconciliation package today, according to Politico.

Sarah Ferris
(@sarahnferris)

Pelosi tells Dems in caucus this morning that she hopes to finish talks by midday *today* with a Rules hearing *tomorrow*, sources tell @heatherscope & me.

That would mean House could vote Thurs or Fri on infra and/or spending plan. Lotta time left in the week!

November 2, 2021

The Democratic speaker is hoping for a House rules committee hearing on the legislation tomorrow, which could set up a Thursday or Friday vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the reconciliation package.

But there are still several important outstanding details of the reconciliation package that need to be negotiated, including the provision over prescription drug pricing.

Stay tuned.











13:41

Congressional Progressive Caucus chair Pramila Jayapal said Democrats still need to finalize details on prescription drug pricing, childcare and immigration in the reconciliation package.

And yet, the Washington congresswoman told Punchbowl News that she still hopes the House can vote on both the reconciliation package and the bipartisan infrastructure bill this week.

Max Cohen
(@maxpcohen)

Just asked Rep. Jayapal about her views on timing of the two bills this week. She said details needed to be worked out on prescription drug pricing, childcare and immigration in BBB.

Seems like major issues. But Jayapal still said she hopes both BBB and BIF pass this week.

November 2, 2021











13:41

House Democrats push for votes on infrastructure and reconciliation bills, despite Manchin concerns

Greetings from Washington, live blog readers.

House Democrats are moving forward with their plans to hold votes on both the infrastructure and reconciliation bills later this week, as they race to finish the text of the reconciliation package.

“The House, Senate and White House continue to move forward with the Build Back Better Act,” speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement yesterday.

“Democrats look forward to passing the Build Back Better Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework For The People.”

ABC News
(@ABC)

Sen. Joe Manchin on reconciliation package: “Simply put: I will not support a bill that is this consequential without thoroughly understanding the impact that it’ll have on our national debt, our economy, and most importantly all of our American people.” https://t.co/xY8G8YiI04 pic.twitter.com/mfWmHUFTiI

November 1, 2021

But Democratic Senator Joe Manchin once again raised concerns about the reconciliation package yesterday, intensifying fears that the bill may not pass the evenly divided Senate.

“Simply put: I will not support a bill that is this consequential without thoroughly understanding the impact that it’ll have on our national debt, our economy and most importantly all of our American people,” Manchin said.

But so far, the White House has dismissed Manchin’s criticism, insisting that the final version of the reconciliation bill will pass his spending tests.

“Senator Manchin says he is prepared to support a Build Back Better plan that combats inflation, is fiscally responsible, and will create jobs. The plan the House is finalizing meets those tests,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said.

House Democrats will be looking to make more progress on the reconciliation package today. Stay tuned.



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