(LibertySociety.com) – Republicans and Democrats have spent the last couple of months negotiating a bipartisan infrastructure bill worth $1.2 trillion. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) tried to push the bill through before it was complete, but Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said not so fast. On Wednesday, July 21, Republicans blocked the bill from moving forward until it’s completed.
Schumer previously announced he wanted the vote set for July 21. McConnell thought it was too soon, and it appears the majority of the Senate agreed. They want to make sure they have time to read the bill before lawmakers start the official debate. The minority leader told reporters he believes they “need to see the bill before we decide whether or not to vote for it.”
Senate Republicans blocked an effort by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to move forward on a bipartisan infrastructure proposal today, arguing the party could not advance a plan that is still being negotiated https://t.co/CSlo0xkfCg
— POLITICO (@politico) July 21, 2021
Reading a bill first is a crucial first step toward understanding what’s in it. This delay isn’t anticipated to be a long one, however. The Senate could be ready to vote on the bill as soon as next Monday, July 26.
The bipartisan infrastructure bill is something both parties have wanted to pass for a long time. It’s a challenge for lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to come together to get something passed, but there’s a lot of hope it’ll happen this time. That is, if legislators have the chance to read what they’re actually voting to implement. That seems like it would be a given, but apparently not so much anymore.
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