US House plans to vote on infrastructure bill on Friday

By Ovunc Kutlu

ANKARA (AA) - The US House of Representatives plans to vote on an infrastructure bill later on Friday, after it was postponed amid the divide between moderates and progressives among the Democrats.

After failing to reach a deal late Thursday, the vote was rescheduled for Friday, according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who told reporters "There'll be a vote today" as she was leaving the Capitol Hill after midnight.

The $500 billion infrastructure bill that includes a jobs package is critical for the economic agenda of President Joe Biden who has so far failed to find a consensus between his party’s factions, but continued negotiations on Thursday.

The delay is expected to provide more time for the Democrats to reach an agreement on a $3.5 trillion social safety net bill, which includes expansive climate change goals, in order to bring progressives aboard. But, the massive amount creates divisions among lawmakers.

Progressive Democrats in the House are trying to use the Senate-passed infrastructure bill as a leverage for obtaining a larger package related to their social safety net programs.

"For more than three months now, we’ve been clear that we are NOT voting for one of these bills without the other," Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a Democrat from the state of Washington, wrote Thursday on Twitter.

"Stick to the plan. Pass both bills, together ... From child care and paid leave to Medicare expansion and climate action, we can't have an equitable recovery without it," the Congressional Progressive Caucus leader said, referring to Biden's Build Back Better agenda.