Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is exploring how to pass President Biden's third economic spending bill later this year without any Republican votes via an obscure Senate rule that would allow Democrats to use reconciliation again. "Schumer wants to maximize his options to allow Senate Democrats multiple pathways to advance President Biden's Build Back Better agenda if Senate Republicans try to obstruct or water down a bipartisan agreement," the aide said. MANCHIN PLEDGES TO BLOCK BIDEN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL IF REPUBLICANS AREN'T INCLUDEDDemocrats already used budget reconciliation to pass the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan earlier this month, and are considering using the method again to bypass GOP votes on Biden's forthcoming infrastructure bill. Without reconciliation, which can be used on certain tax, spending and debt limit bills, Democrats would need to secure the support of at least 10 Republicans. The White House is currently laying the groundwork for a sweeping, multipart infrastructure bill that Biden will unveil in Pittsburgh this week.

Source: Fox News March 29, 2021 16:18 UTC