![](\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net\/v1\/static\/694940094001\/7f23f376-543e-45c3-b981-64efdd7bc1fa\/9c85613c-968a-4f55-9144-141912181327\/1280x720\/match\/931\/524\/image.jpg?ve=1&tl=1\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Transportation secretary vows always ‘to tell the truth’ on ‘The Story’ (edited) <\/p>\n
Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., was caught on a hot mic telling Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg that the budget reconciliation process would “most likely” be needed to get an infrastructure package into the end zone.<\/p>\n
While at a Monday press conference featuring Buttigieg, Cardin was caught on a C-SPAN mic saying that Democrats will “most likely have to use reconciliation” to push an infrastructure package through Congress.<\/p>\n
Cardin also told Buttigieg that the infrastructure bill will be constructed in a “similar” way to the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill that President Biden signed last week.<\/p>\n
“Ultimately, it\u2019s going to be put together similar to how the American Rescue Plan was put together \u2026,” Cardin was caught saying. “Most likely, we\u2019re going to have to use reconciliation.”<\/p>\n
BUDGET RECONCILIATION: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT PROCESS USED IN COVID AID FIGHT<\/strong><\/p>\n Budget reconciliation is a parliamentary procedure that gained recognition as the Democrats looked for an avenue to get their COVID-19 relief bill, the American Rescue Plan, past a Senate filibuster and to President Joe Biden\u2019s desk. It allows lawmakers to sidestep Senate filibusters. So no 60-vote requirement there. All you need is to find a simple majority to pass whatever bill you insert into a budget reconciliation package.<\/p>\n HOUSE PASSES LANDMARK $1.9T COVID BILL, DELIVERS BIDEN FIRST LEGISLATIVE WIN<\/strong><\/p>\n So, essentially, Cardin and the Senate Democrats can pass an infrastructure legislative package so long as they have 51 votes to pass the measure through budget reconciliation \u2014 an easier feat for Democrats to accomplish in the 50\/50 Senate with Vice President Kamala Harris\u2019 tie-breaking vote.<\/p>\n Neither Cardin\u2019s nor Buttigieg\u2019s office immediately returned Fox News\u2019 requests for comment.<\/p>\n Cardin\u2019s hot mic comments come a week after Congress pushed through the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package that included another round of stimulus checks.<\/p>\n