Democrats’ social spending bill falters ahead of holiday deadline
WASHINGTON — Democrats’ hopes of pushing their social spending and climate bill through the Senate by Christmas are faltering amid intraparty division, a potentially significant setback for President Joe Biden’s top legislative priority.
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., had set Christmas as his deadline to advance the bill through the Senate. But with the vote tally falling short and important procedural work still to be done, the emerging reality on Capitol Hill is that the holiday deadline will slip, leaving Democrats with no choice but to come back in January and try again.
Biden conceded as much in a statement Thursday night, noting that “it takes time to finalize these agreements,” but he expressed optimism.
