The White House stated that Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), were both scheduled to attend the session.
Two of their most moderate members, Sen. Kyrsten Silena, D-Ariz. and Manchin, insist on reducing the package’s size and have demanded other changes.
Initial plans by Democrats were for $3.5 trillion in spending and tax initiatives, over a period of 10 years. However, moderates Sinema and Manchin demanded that the measure be priced lower than $2 trillion to limit costs.
There are still disputes over which priorities should be cut or eliminated. These include plans for expanding Medicare coverage, child-care assistance, and aiding college students with lower incomes. Manchin, whose state has an important coal industry, opposed the idea of penalizing utilities that don’t switch to clean energy quickly.
White House and congressional leaders tried to force months-long negotiations towards a conclusion by October’s end. Democrats want to create an outline that will detail the overall measure’s size and the policy goals that both progressives and moderates would support.
This broad-ranging bill carries many of Biden’s top domestic priorities. The party leaders are keen to end internal conflicts, avoid the possibility that the effort might fail, and focus voters’ attention upon the plan’s popular programs that help families with child care, healthcare costs, and other issues.
Biden should also be able to highlight accomplishments at the global summit on climate change that he will attend in Scotland in November. They have also hoped to make progress that would help Terry McAuliffe win a close-fought Nov. 2 gubernatorial race in Virginia.
It is hoped that a deal between the two parties would build enough trust for Democrats to finally push through a $1 trillion package of broadband and highway projects in the House.
The Senate approved the bipartisan measure over the summer. However, progressives have made it a point to force moderates to support the larger, more comprehensive package of education, health care and environment initiatives.
