Senate GOP blocks debate on $1.2T spending plan in blow to Schumer, Biden

Republicans in the Senate on Wednesday defeated a procedural vote brought by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to begin debate on the bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan, dealing a potentially crucial blow to President Biden’s agenda.

The vote failed 51 to 49. With the Senate evenly split at 50-50, Democrats needed 10 Republicans to vote with them to reach the 60-vote threshold to end cloture and begin debate.