Sinema says lack of infrastructure vote 'inexcusable' and erodes trust within Democratic party

Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema strongly rebuked the House of Representatives' lack of a vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill in a statement Saturday, calling the delay "inexcusable and deeply disappointing for communities across our country."

Sinema's statement came after a dramatic week in the House when Speaker Nancy Pelosi delayed the vote on the infrastructure bill because progressives threatened to withhold support until details are ironed out for the separate, massive social benefits and climate spending bill. President Joe Biden vowed Friday that Democrats will deliver on their agenda as congressional leaders attempt to resolve intra-party divisions that have put passage of the two bills in jeopardy.

One of the problems, progressives say, is that Sinema, of Arizona, along with her colleague Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, want a lower price tag for the bill -- not the $3.5 trillion that was originally decided by Democratic leaders -- but won't share details on where they stand on these negotiations. Manchin made clear Thursday that $1.5 trillion was the price tag he was willing to settle on for his party's plan to expand the social safety net.