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Is the Squad Holding Their Vote on the Infrastructure Bill?
Time will tell, but it looks like progressive Democrats are ready to put up a fight.
It’s no secret that time is beginning to run out during this legislative session for Democrats to accomplish much before they all prepare to focus their energy on re-election campaigns. That is, unless they are willing to nuke or significantly reform the filibuster in the Senate. But with Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema more than happy to be the face of a broader obstructionist movement within the party and ensuring unnecessary gridlock, Republicans have been more than happy to dictate the Democratic agenda when we don’t even have to let them. But as Republicans attempt to gut the infrastructure bill of its best aspects, it appears as though there may be a few progressive lawmakers who aren’t going to allow it to happen.
For months now, those of us on the left have been urging lawmakers to use the very same tactics that Joe Manchin is using against him, insisting that with their leverage in the House there’s no reason why they can’t withhold their votes on legislation in order to ensure they get a say. Needless to say, it was devastating to watch leadership in the progressive caucus bow their heads and accept that there would be no $15 minimum wage on the Covid relief bill, as…
