LATEST: Speaker Pelosi forced to delay infrastructure bill vote following internal Democratic clash.
after intraparty fighting delayed a planned vote — further stalling one of President Joe Biden's top legislative priorities.
Biden attempted to soothe tensions among the moderate and progressive wings of the party and make a case for his legislative agenda by attending the caucus meeting Friday afternoon. But he sided with progressives, and lawmakers left without a deal. The White House tried to downplay expectations about Biden's meeting with lawmakers, suggesting that passage of the infrastructure bill shouldn't be expected afterward. A senior administration official told NBC News that the president will say there is “more work to do” and will “make his case for his agenda.”
Despite no immediate vote on the infrastructure package, applause could be heard by those standing outside in the hallway. As lawmakers exited, several said the president's message was party unity and tried to make a persuasive case to link the infrastructure bill and the social spending bill. The infrastructure bill, while wildly popular among Democrats, has stalled because of fighting between factions of the Democratically controlled Congress, pitting progressives against moderates and the House against the Senate.
Biden admitted in the meeting that he does not have the votes to get the infrastructure bill across the finish line, and therefore cannot pass the social spending bill.
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