Democratic divisions threaten to bog down Biden's economic package
CNN
Senate Democrats returned to Washington on Monday suggesting they were far away from reaching a deal on a $3.5 trillion economic package, raising fresh questions about whether all 50 members of their caucus can quickly unite behind the centerpiece of President Joe Biden's agenda amid sharp divisions over the scope of the plan and ambitious timetable for considering it.
Democratic leaders had hoped that the party could coalesce behind a proposal by Wednesday. But a wide range of Democratic senators made clear that Wednesday's timetable was not achievable, even as party leaders still hope that a bill can be approved by Congress before month's end -- something that would require total party unity in the Senate. But the party is still at odds over the price tag of the plan, the tax hikes to pay for it, the health care provisions in the proposal and climate provisions key to winning over liberals. And the problems for Democratic leaders go beyond just Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona-- two of the party's most moderate members.More Related News