House continues to haggle over infrastructure

Moderate Democrats joined Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday to reject a pharmaceutical provision in President Joe Biden’s proposal that would allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices. The Ways and Means Committee continues to debate a similar provision. President Joe Biden met privately on Wednesday with Sens. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, two of the most outspoken Democratic critics of his infrastructure bill and its accompanying $3.5 trillion spending plan. Biden’s proposal includes New Deal–like programming aimed at rebuilding the economy by taxing the rich. Manchin wants the cost of the bill cut to $1 to $1.5 trillion.

What is Congress debating? House committees are finalizing proposals on funding their respective programs. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said she wants a vote by the end of September, and the White House expects Congress to move the legislation forward by November.

Dig deeper: Read my report in The Sift on Democrats’ tax hike proposals.