Democrats with the Progressive Caucus are alerting lawmakers that they will block the so-called bipartisan infrastructure bill, which 19 Senate Republicans supported, unless amnesty for millions of illegal aliens is passed through Congress.
WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 17: Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MI) and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) listen as Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) holds a bill enrollment signing ceremony for the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act on June 17, 2021 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th, commemorates the of the end of slavery in the United States and will be celebrated as a national holiday. (Photo by Joshua Roberts/Getty Images)
This week, 19 Senate Republicans joined Democrats to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in a 69-30 vote. The 19 Senate Republicans who supported the infrastructure bill include:
Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Richard Burr (R-NC), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Rob Portman (R-OH), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jim Risch (R-ID), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), John Hoeven (R-ND), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Mitt Romney (R-UT)
Now, Progressive Caucus Democrats said they plan to oppose the bill so long as moderate Senate Democrats and Republicans oppose passing a $3.5 trillion budget resolution that includes amnesty for illegal aliens.
In a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Reps. Pramila Japayal (D-WA), Katie Porter (D-CA), and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) said the majority of Progressive Caucus Democrats will not support the infrastructure bill until the budget resolution with amnesty is approved by Congress.
They write:
The Congressional Progressive Caucus has recently concluded an internal survey of its 96 members regarding the urgency of ensuring that a narrower bipartisan infrastructure agreement is enacted on the condition that a robust package of social, human, and climate infrastructure — reflecting all Democrats’ longstanding priorities — is simultaneously passed by simple majorities in Congress through the budget reconciliation process. [Emphasis added]
We specifically asked whether members would commit to withholding a yes vote on the bipartisan infrastructure deal — Senate Amendment 2137 to H.R. 3684 — until the Senate has passed budget reconciliation legislation deemed acceptable by the Congressional Progressive Caucus. A majority of our respondents affirmed that they would withhold their votes in support of the bipartisan legislation in the House of Representatives until the Senate adopted a robust reconciliation package. [Emphasis added]
We therefore encourage you to continue coordinating closely between the two chambers, collaborating with the White House, and engaging with our caucus so that the reconciliation framework reflects our shared and longstanding investment priorities, and that the Senate first adopts this reconciliation package before House consideration of any bipartisan infrastructure legislation. [Emphasis added]
As Breitbart News reported, Schumer and Pelosi have each suggested that they view the infrastructure bill as a stepping stone toward amnesty.
“The votes in the House and Senate depend on us having both bills,” Pelosi said.
Pelosi, though, is facing backlash from her caucus with swing district House Democrats asking her to untie the infrastructure bill from the Democrat budget with amnesty.
Continue: Breitbart.com
Leave a Reply