WASHINGTON — Republican senators blocked a bill Monday night to keep the government operating and allow federal borrowing, but Democrats aiming to avert a shutdown pledged to try again \u2014 at the same time pressing ahead on President Joe Biden\u2019s big plans to reshape government.<\/p>\n
The efforts are not necessarily linked, but the fiscal yearend deadline to fund the government past Thursday is bumping up against the Democrats\u2019 desire to make progress on Biden\u2019s expansive $3.5 trillion federal overhaul.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s all making for a tumultuous moment for Biden and his party, with consequences certain to shape his presidency and the lawmakers\u2019 own political futures.<\/p>\n
Success would mean a landmark accomplishment, if Democrats can helm Biden\u2019s big bill to passage. Failure — or a highly unlikely government shutdown and debt crisis \u2014 could derail careers.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know me, I\u2019m a born optimist,\u201d Biden told reporters Monday, as he rolled up his sleeve for a COVID-19 booster shot. \u201cWe\u2019re gonna get it done.\u201d<\/p>\n
Monday\u2019s 50-48 vote against taking up the bill fell well short of the 60 needed to proceed over a GOP filibuster. Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer switched his vote to \u201cno,\u201d a procedural step to allow him to bring the measure back for consideration, which he said would happen this week.<\/p>\n
With days to go, Democrats said they will try again before Thursday\u2019s deadline to pass a bill funding government operations past the Sept. 30 fiscal yearend, stripping out the debate over the debt limit for another day, closer to a separate October deadline.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the real action is unfolding behind the scenes over the $3.5 trillion measure, with Biden and his Democratic allies in Congress seeking a once-in-a-generation reworking of the nation\u2019s balance sheets.<\/p>\n
From fee pre-kindergarten and child care subsidies for families with small children to dental care and hearing aids for seniors with Medicare, there\u2019s a lot in the president\u2019s proposal — all to be paid for with higher taxes on corporations and the wealthy.<\/p>\n
With Republicans solidly opposed, Democrats are rushing to trim the total and win holdouts within their own party.<\/p>\n
As the overall price tag comes down, Speaker Nancy Pelosi told House Democrats the president is \u201cworking on a number,\u201d referring to talks underway with the Senate, according to a person granted anonymity to discuss the late-evening private caucus meeting.<\/p>\n
Despite the rush to amass votes, Pelosi said the House Democrats would not move ahead on a bill until it is acceptable to their colleagues in the Senate, the person said.<\/p>\n
Exiting the caucus meeting, Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., the chairman of the Way & Means Committee, said as momentum builds toward Thursday, he was expecting a new total amount: \u201cLet\u2019s pop the number.\u201d<\/p>\n
Building on a separate $1 trillion bipartisan public works package that\u2019s already cleared the Senate and is heading for a House vote, also on Thursday, Biden is seeking major spending for health care, education and efforts to tackle climate change. The total price tag, he contends, is actually \u201czero\u201d — covered by the expected increase in tax revenue.<\/p>\n
He is personally calling fellow Democrats in Congress an effort to resolve differences and bring his sweeping domestic policy vision forward.<\/p>\n
Ticking off the weighty list of goals along with meeting the other deadlines, Biden said: \u201cIf we do that, the country\u2019s going to be in great shape.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Republicans say it\u2019s real spending that can\u2019t be afforded, and a reflection of the Democrats\u2019 drive to insert government into people\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n
And so far, the bill is also too big for key Democrats whose votes are needed in the face of the GOP opposition. Two Democratic holdouts, Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, have said they won\u2019t support a bill of that size. Manchin has previously proposed spending of $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion.<\/p>\n
Progressive lawmakers said they\u2019ve already compromised enough with more centrist Democrats, but in one potential development, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, confirmed she and Sinema have been in talks.<\/p>\n
With all Republicans opposed, Democratic leaders can\u2019t spare a single vote in the 50-50 Senate, relying on Vice President Kamala Harris to break a tie to pass the eventual package.<\/p>\n
All this, as other deadlines swirl this week to pay for government operations and allow more borrowing or risk a devastating federal shutdown or debt default — though those dire scenarios appear unlikely.<\/p>\n
The bill Senate Republicans rejected Monday night would have funded government operations temporarily, to early December, while also providing emergency funds for Hurricane Ida and other disaster relief and for Afghan refugees in the aftermath of the 20-year war.<\/p>\n
Republican leader Mitch McConnell rejected that approach because Democrats also included a provision to suspend the debt limit, which would allow continued borrowing to pay off the nation\u2019s bills.<\/p>\n
Once a routine matter, raising the debt limit is now a political weapon of choice wielded by Republicans to attack Democrats — even though both parties have been responsible for piling on debt.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Democrats will do the responsible thing–the right thing, the thing that has been done for decades by both parties\u2014and vote yes,\u201d said Schumer ahead of the vote.<\/p>\n
He called the Republican opposition \u201cunhinged.\u201d<\/p>\n
McConnell has said he wants to fund the government and prevent a devastating debt default, but wants to force Democrats to split the package in two and take the politically uncomfortable debt ceiling vote on their own.<\/p>\n
\u201cRepublicans are not rooting for a shutdown or a debt limit breach,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The House began debating the public works bill late Monday, and while it won bipartisan support in the Senate, House Republican leaders are wary of supporting it. Donald Trump, the former president who tried and failed to secure an infrastructure deal when he was in the White House, is rallying opposition to it.<\/p>\n
As Pelosi huddled privately Monday with House Democrats, it was clear she is pressing ahead to move as swiftly as possible on Biden\u2019s broader package.<\/p>\n
Biden\u2019s proposal is to be paid for by increasing the corporate tax rate, from 21% to 26.5% on businesses earning more than $5 million a year, and raising the top rate on individuals from 37% to 39.6% for those earning more than $400,000 a year, or $450,000 for couples.<\/p>\n
While Democrats are largely in agreement on Biden\u2019s vision — many ran their campaigns on the longstanding party priorities \u2014 stubborn disputes remain. Among them are splits over which initiatives should be reshaped, including how to push toward cleaner energy or to lower prescription drug costs.<\/p>\n