Senate "vote-a-rama" on $3.5 trillion infrastructure resolution stretches into wee hours

Washington — Democrats pushed their expansive $3.5 trillion framework for bolstering family services, health and environment programs toward Senate passage overnight Wednesday as Republicans unleashed an avalanche of amendments aimed at making their rivals pay a price in next year's elections.

The process is referred to in Washington as a "vote-a-rama." Congressional approval of the budget resolution, which seems assured, would mark a crucial first step by Democrats toward enacting the heart of President Joe Biden's domestic agenda. It would open the door to a follow-up measure aiming the government's fiscal might at assisting families, creating jobs and fighting climate change, with higher taxes on the wealthy and big companies footing much of the bill.