House passes infrastructure bill

Democrats broke up a monthslong logjam in the House to approve a $1 trillion package of road improvements and other projects late Friday. The measure passed 228-206, with 13 Republicans voting for it and six of Democrats’ furthest left members—including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri—opposing it. The Senate already passed the bill, and President Joe Biden said he would sign it.

What’s up next on Democrats’ agenda? They wanted to pass the president’s $1.85 trillion social spending plan on Friday, too, but moderates forced another delay. In a breakthrough, however, they agreed they would support the spending bill if a cost estimate by the Congressional Budget Office matches preliminary numbers that White House and congressional tax analysts have provided. If it does, then lawmakers agreed to vote on the measure the week of Nov. 15.

Dig deeper: Read Esther Eaton’s report in The Stew about what is in the social spending plan after Democrats cut its size down from more than $3 trillion.