'Betrayal': Progressives Rage After Nancy Pelosi Walks Back Infrastructure Promise

The Congressional Progressive Caucus is threatening to revolt if Democratic leaders don't make good on their promises.

Progressive lawmakers erupted on Tuesday after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) walked back a key pledge she made to her party months ago ― that all of President Joe Biden’s legislative agenda would move through Congress at the same time. 

At a private Democratic caucus meeting on Monday, Pelosi told members that passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill the Senate passed earlier this year cannot wait for the Build Back Better Act, Democrats’ ambitious social safety net and climate package. The circumstances had changed, Pelosi added, and the subsequent $3.5 trillion bill that progressives are pushing won’t be ready for floor action in time before a scheduled vote on the bipartisan bill this week. 

“We had to accommodate the changes that were being necessitated,” Pelosi said at the meeting, adding that the House can’t wait on the Senate to come to an agreement on the Build Back Better Act before voting on the bipartisan infrastructure bill.