Senate Democrats lose vote to advance bipartisan infrastructure deal Biden wants

Senate Democrats on Wednesday lost a a procedural vote to advance a bipartisan infrastructure deal that's a top priority for President Joe Biden.

Senate Democrats on Wednesday lost a key test vote to allow a bipartisan infrastructure deal to advance -- after Republicans involved in the talks say they needed more time to finalize details before helping Democrats meet the Senate's 60-vote threshold to start debate on the bill. While Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's effort failed -- handing him and President Joe Biden at least a temporary political loss on a top priority -- the White House earlier Wednesday the president was "extremely supportive" of Schumer's strategy aimed at jump starting negotiations on the measure that would spend $1.2 trillion on "traditional infrastructure." The partisan defeat, by a vote of 49 to 51, belied the comity behind the scenes as a bipartisan group of 11 senators works feverishly behind the scenes to finalize the terms of their package to fund major public works projects, from bridges and highways to public transit and broadband. "This vote is not a deadline to have every final detail worked out. It is not an attempt to jam anyone," Schumer said on the Senate floor Wednesday morning ahead of the afternoon showdown.