US government shutdown averted, but Democrats struggle to save Joe Biden’s US$3.5 trillion deal
- With hours to spare, Biden signs bill to avert partial US government shutdown
- But deeply divided Democrats stumble on giant US infrastructure package
The California congresswoman had promised to put up the legislation in the lower chamber after it advanced from the Senate with cross-party support, with moderates keen to notch an easy victory for Biden on what would be one of the largest spending packages in history.
But progressives insisted they would sink the proposals after getting no clear sign from the centrist faction that they would commit to an even broader US$3.5 trillion social spending package Biden is touting as the cornerstone of his plan to transform the US economy.
The threat left Pelosi with a dilemma: bring the infrastructure bill to the floor, where it has very little Republican support and would likely be sunk by Democratic liberals, or risk the ire of moderates by announcing a delay.
Pelosi didn’t comment immediately, but the White House vowed to bring the warring groups back to the table on Biden’s two-pronged strategy on Friday.