Senate bipartisan infrastructure plan picks up steam but faces major hurdles ahead

CNN

By Lauren Fox and Manu Raju

June 14, 2021

(CNN) Momentum is building in the Senate behind a $1.2 trillion infrastructure proposal, as liberals are showing a new willingness to accept the package with key assurances and Republican leaders predicting the potential of wide support within their conference.

There are still many details that need to be sorted out -- both on the details of the bill and the process for becoming law -- and the whole effort could ultimately still implode. But after a rocky reception last week, there's been a sharp shift in tone among senators from both parties after a bipartisan group of 10 senators announced their outline last Thursday and as pressure is building on the narrowly divided Congress to deliver.

Liberals such as Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said Monday that they might be willing to accept a smaller package now if there are "irrevocable" commitments from Democratic moderates to pass a larger bill along straight party-lines through a process known as budget reconciliation. Moderates like Sen. Joe Manchin signaled an openness to moving on reconciliation as long as the bipartisan effort was exhausted.

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