10 Things in Politics: Pelosi delays infrastructure vote

Brent D. Griffiths

Oct 1, 2021, 16:34 IST

10 Things in Politics: Pelosi delays infrastructure vote

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2019. Win McNamee/Getty Images

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Here's what we're talking about:

With Phil Rosen.

1. ALL DAY LONG: Infrastructure week is still going. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi delayed a vote on President Joe Biden's nearly $1 trillion infrastructure plan in the face of a large progressive revolt. Biden and the White House wanted the legislation to show that Washington could still act in a bipartisan way. The story now, however, is Democratic infighting.

Here's where things stand this morning:

Neither side has blinked: House progressives hijacked the infrastructure debate amid worries that centrists would either abandon or cut Biden's massive $3.5 trillion social-spending plan after the smaller infrastructure deal passed. Politico cited sources saying that party leaders sought to persuade centrist Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema to agree to a $2.1 trillion package, rather than $3.5 trillion. So far, the centrists aren't budging.

Manchin's earlier suggestion sparked outrage: Manchin had earlier answered repeated calls for him to be more specific by saying he supported a $1.5 trillion spending plan, a massive $2 trillion cut to the White House's original proposal. Progressives were aghast at the offer. "It would mean decimating vital, important programs for working families," Sen. Bernie Sanders told The Washington Post of what would be cut if Manchin got his way.
The White House remains closely involved: Biden's economic agenda remains at stake. Susan Rice, the director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, was among top advisors who met with top congressional Democrats into the night, The New York Times reports.
Infrastructure week isn't over yet: It is Friday, but thanks to Congress' quirky procedures it's still Thursday in the House. Centrist lawmakers had insisted on voting on the infrastructure proposal by Thursday, so technically Pelosi could still check that box. Leaving the Capitol, Pelosi told reporters, per Roll Call, that the two sides were "not trillions of dollars apart." She then said there would be a vote Friday.

Progressives celebrated after the vote was delayed: Pelosi has a reputation for strong-arming legislation across the finish line. Often, this has meant flattening progressives in her path. Reporters and commentators said it was a rare win for liberal rank-and-file members.

Rep. Ilhan Omar spiked the football after one of her colleagues' predictions didn't come true:

But it's clear some of their colleagues are miffed: "When Iowans tell me they are sick of Washington games, this is what they mean," Rep. Cindy Axne of Iowa told The Times. "All-at-once or nothing is no way to govern."

2. Congress was able to keep the government open: Infrastructure, of course, wasn't Congress' only focus on Thursday. Just hours before a government shutdown would have begun, Biden signed a continuing resolution that keeps the US government funded until December 3. The short-term extension passed the Senate in a 65-35 vote, and the House later approved it in a 254-175 vote. Only 34 House Republicans joined every House Democrat in voting for the measure. But Washington isn't out of the woods. A debt default still looms in 18 days.

3. Taxpayers are still cutting government checks to Stephen Miller: Miller - the chief architect of the Trump administration's immigration policies and one of the most polarizing figures in Donald Trump's circle - is one of 14 staffers still on the government payroll because of his work in Trump's official office. Like all former presidents from recent decades, Trump has a government-funded annual budget to pay staff members who assist with his postpresidential affairs. Unlike his predecessors, Trump appears to be gearing up for another White House run. Read more about the key staffers in Trump's orbit.

4. Justice Samuel Alito slams criticism of Texas decision: Alito said it was "false and inflammatory" for critics to argue the Supreme Court violated Roe v. Wade by allowing Texas' antiabortion law to take effect. He also turned his ire on journalists and politicians for the use of the term "shadow docket" to describe how the court had increasingly made important decisions outside the typical oral-argument process. "This portrayal feeds unprecedented efforts to intimidate the court," Alito said. More on his comments, which came just a day after senators held a hearing on the expanding use of the shadow docket.

5. Scarlett Johansson and Disney have reached a settlement: Johansson had sued Disney over its distribution of Marvel's "Black Widow." She argued that the company's decision to release the film simultaneously on its Disney+ streaming platform and in theaters violated her contract and cost her millions in income. The settlement's terms haven't been disclosed.

6. USPS is slowing down mail delivery starting today: Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's plan for overhauling the US Postal Service is expected to slow delivery for many Americans, CBS News reports. Critics say the slower standards could cause some Americans to miss bill payments along with other problems. Among the changes, CBS News wrote, "Americans should now expect that letters and other mail could take up to five days to reach their destinations, and vice versa." One expert said mail delivery would now be slower than in the 1970s.

7. Janet Yellen wants to scrap the debt ceiling: The Treasury secretary told lawmakers "it's very destructive to put the president and myself, the Treasury secretary, in a situation where we might be unable to pay the bills." More on Yellen's support for getting rid of the debt ceiling.

8. Gov. Kristi Noem ditches Corey Lewandowski: The South Dakota governor said she would stop working with the former Trump advisor following reports that Lewandowski faced accusations of sexual harassment against a GOP donor, The Washington Post reports. Trump is also said to have cut ties with his first campaign manager. Charles Herbster, a GOP gubernatorial candidate in Nebraska, also said he was asking Lewandowski to step back from his campaign, per The Post. More on the fallout for a once prominent Trump aide.

9. Americans who aren't eligible for COVID-19 boosters are still getting them: Pharmacies and doctor's offices around the US are doling out third vaccine doses with no questions asked, even for people who aren't supposed to be getting boosters yet, The Wall Street Journal reports. Many places have not asked for proof of eligibility or confirmation before administering boosters. See whether you're one of 60 million Americans eligible for another jab.

10. Want to get spooked for Halloween?: From hotels to homes to churches, Insider compiled a list of the most haunted places to visit in every state. There's an old county jail you can visit in Florida to see spirits of people held there, or maybe you fancy a visit to the Ax Murder House in Iowa. Wherever you are in the country, you have local haunts nearby. See Insider's full list of the most haunted places in the US.

Looking for a challenge to start your day? Try your luck at today's Insider Crossword.

Today's trivia question: Speaking of Halloween, who was the first first lady to decorate the White House for the scary occasion? Email your answer and a suggested question to me at bgriffiths@insider.com.