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u.s. news Diasabra 2 OctOber 2021

Biden at Capitol as Democrats scale back $3.5T plan

(AP) — President Joe Press-NORC Center.
Biden traveled to Capi- Holdout Democratic Sen.
tol Hill Friday to meet Joe Manchin of West Virginia The president and his party
with lawmakers on their had sunk hopes for a swift are facing a potentially em-
home ground as Demo- compromise, despite hours barrassing setback — and
crats strained to rescue a of shuttle diplomacy late perhaps a politically devas-
scaled-back version of his Thursday with White House tating collapse of the whole
$3.5 trillion government aides on Capitol Hill, when enterprise — if they cannot
overhaul and salvage a re- he refused to budge on his resolve the standoff.
lated public works bill af- demands for a smaller over-
ter days of frantic negotia- all package, around $1.5 tril- Biden’s bigger proposal is a
tions resulted in no deal. lion. That’s too meager for years-in-the-making collec-
progressive lawmakers who tion of Democratic priorities,
Biden was greeted by party are refusing to vote on the a sweeping rewrite of the na-
leaders and headed straight public works measure with- tion’s tax and spending poli-
into a private meeting with out a commitment to Biden’s cies that would essentially
House Democrats. The broader framework on the raise taxes on corporations
White House said he also bigger bill. and the wealthy and plow that crats watched the promised new deadline to act on the
would be visiting other cities money back into government vote slip on the first piece of stalled $1 trillion infrastruc-
next week to make his case Talks swirled over a compro- health care, education and Biden’s proposal, the slim- ture bill.
that his historic measures mise in the $2 trillion range. other programs, touching the mer $1 trillion public works
would help the American But with Manchin dug in, a lives of countless Americans. bill, a roads-and-bridges The White House and Dem-
people. quick deal seemed increas- package, as progressives ocratic leaders are intently
ingly out of reach for the Biden says the ultimate price flexed their leverage. focused on Manchin and to
“We’ve made some progress,” present. Still, Biden’s visit tag is zero, because the tax some extent Sen. Kyrsten
said press secretary Jen Psaki. was welcomed by Democrats revenue would cover the During a private caucus Sinema of Arizona, two cen-
“Compromise requires ev- who have complained about spending costs — higher meeting earlier Friday, Pelosi trist Democrats who helped
erybody giving a little. That’s not hearing enough from the rates on businesses earn- asked lawmakers to stand if steer the public works bill to
the stage we’re in.” president about a path for- ing more than $5 million a they supported the infra- Senate passage but have con-
ward. year, and individuals earning structure package, and most cerns that Biden’s overall bill
However, action had ground more than $400,000 a year, or did, according to those in is too big. The two senators
to a halt in Congress despite “It’s his time to stand up,” $450,000 for couples. the room. But Pelosi has few have infuriated colleagues
Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s insis- said Rep. Dean Phillips of votes to spare and appeared with their close-to-the vest
tence there would be a “vote Minnesota. “We understand that we’re inclined not to risk failure. negotiations that could tank
today” on a $1 trillion infra- going to have to get every- Biden’s effort — and their
structure bill that is popu- Because of the ongoing ne- body on board in order to Instead, the House and Sen- own campaign promises.
lar but has become snared gotiations, Biden opted to be able to close this deal,” ate were poised to swiftly ap-
in the debate over Biden’s remain in Washington on said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D- prove a 30-day extension of “I’m willing to sit down and
broader measure. Voting on Friday instead of traveling Wash., the leader of the Con- surface transportation pro- work on the $1.5,” Manchin
Friday appeared increasingly to his Delaware home as he gressional Progressive Cau- grams that are expiring with told reporters Thursday, as
unlikely, throwing the presi- often does on weekends. His cus. “We’re waiting for that.” the fiscal yearend, halting protesters seeking a bigger
dent’s big domestic agenda public approval rating has furloughing of more than package and Biden’s priori-
into doubt as negotiations dropped, according to a new Frustrated and with their 3,500 federal transportation ties chanted behind him out-
dragged. poll from The Associated trust frayed, centrist Demo- workers. That also creates a side the Capitol.

Hochul could face rising Democrats in New York governor race

(AP) — After being vault- right next year. cohort of fellow Democrats is crats could set up the 2022 ing all of you as the attorney
ed into office two months making moves to potentially race with a historically di- general.”
ago, New York Gov. Kathy But as she works to sculpt her challenge her in the primary. verse field of top contenders,
Hochul is preparing to reputation in the wake of An- including Attorney General At a dinner Thursday night,
run for the job in her own drew Cuomo’s resignation, a At least half a dozen Demo- Letitia James, the state’s first James told another group of
Black attorney general. Democrats, “Stay tuned.”

James, who oversaw the sex- “I love serving as the attorney
ual harassment investigation general of the great state of
that prompted Cuomo’s res- New York,” she said, accord-
ignation, has not said wheth- ing to a recording of her re-
er she’ll run, but she sounded marks obtained by the New
like a candidate Wednesday as York Post. “But the question,
she addressed an influential again, is: Can I make more
civic group in New York City. change?”

In a campaign-style speech, New York City Public Ad-
she rebuked Cuomo, called vocate Jumaane Williams
for reforms to a state ethics announced this week he’s
commission and issued a call formed a committee to ex-
to begin a new era in govern- plore a run for governor, an
ment and “to make history, office he could become only
to break ground, to shatter the second Black man to
society’s self-imposed glass hold.
ceilings.”
And New York City Mayor
She dodged a question about Bill de Blasio, who is term
whether she’s running: “I am limited, hinted this week that
focusing on my work, put- he is also considering a gu-
ting my head down and serv- bernatorial campaign.