Moderate Democrats warn Pelosi they won't consider budget resolution until infrastructure bill passes


House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) plan for passing a reconciliation bill prior to a bipartisan infrastructure bill may have hit a snag.
A group of nine moderate House Democrats plan to warn Pelosi in a letter Friday they won't vote for a key budget resolution until a bipartisan infrastructure bill is first passed in the House and signed into law, The New York Times reports.
This "could put Pelosi's plans in jeopardy," CNN writes. The House speaker has said she will hold up the bipartisan infrastructure package until a reconciliation bill is first passed in the Senate, promising in June, "There ain't going to be an infrastructure bill, unless we have the reconciliation bill passed by the United States Senate." Pelosi hoped this timeline would "assuage liberal Democrats more interested in the social policy bill," the Times writes. A budget resolution, CNN writes, "must be adopted by the House before both chambers are allowed to advance a sweeping economic package worth $3.5 trillion" and containing numerous Democratic priorities.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
But in the new letter, the moderate Democrats write, "Some have suggested that we hold off on considering the Senate infrastructure bill for months — until the reconciliation process is completed. We disagree. With the livelihoods of hardworking American families at stake, we simply can't afford months of unnecessary delays and risk squandering this once-in-a-century, bipartisan infrastructure package."
This letter, The New York Times wrote, revealed a "major rift that threatens the carefully choreographed" strategy by congressional Democrats and the Biden administration.
"This is as firm a threat as this group of moderate Democrats has made," Punchbowl News also writes. "And if they hold together, they can prevent Pelosi from passing the House Democratic budget resolution the week of Aug. 23."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Home Depots are the new epicenters of ICE raids
In the Spotlight The chain has not provided many comments on the ongoing raids
-
Why does Trump keep interfering in the NYC mayoral race?
Today's Big Question The president has seemingly taken an outsized interest in his hometown elections, but are his efforts to block Zohran Mamdani about political expediency or something deeper?
-
The pros and cons of banning cellphones in classrooms
Pros and cons The devices could be major distractions
-
House posts lewd Epstein note attributed to Trump
Speed Read The estate of Jeffrey Epstein turned over the infamous 2003 birthday note from President Donald Trump
-
Supreme Court allows 'roving' race-tied ICE raids
Speed Read The court paused a federal judge's order barring agents from detaining suspected undocumented immigrants in LA based on race
-
South Korea to fetch workers detained in Georgia raid
Speed Read More than 300 South Korean workers detained in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant will be released
-
DC sues Trump to end Guard 'occupation'
Speed Read D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues that the unsolicited military presence violates the law
-
RFK Jr. faces bipartisan heat in Senate hearing
Speed Read The health secretary defended his leadership amid CDC turmoil and deflected questions about the restricted availability of vaccines
-
White House defends boat strike as legal doubts mount
Speed Read Experts say there was no legal justification for killing 11 alleged drug-traffickers
-
Epstein accusers urge full file release, hint at own list
speed read A rally was organized by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who are hoping to force a vote on their Epstein Files Transparency Act
-
Court hands Harvard a win in Trump funding battle
Speed Read The Trump administration was ordered to restore Harvard's $2 billion in research grants