Democrats set to approve sweeping package
The Washington Examiner
House Democrats are expected to send their sweeping, party-line energy, healthcare, and tax legislation to President Joe Biden’s desk on Friday. While the party is anticipating scoring a substantial legislative win ahead of the midterm elections, up to a third of the Democratic caucus is expected to cast their vote for the $740 billion budget reconciliation bill via proxy on Friday.
The upper chamber passed the measure in a party-line vote on Sunday after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and centrist Sen. Joe Manchin unexpectedly struck a deal late last month. House Democratic leadership vowed to bring the bill up swiftly, announcing plans to hold a previously unscheduled session after locking up enough support within the caucus to ensure its success on the floor.
With the House previously scheduled to be out of Washington for August recess, a sizable number of members are opting against flying back to the Capitol to cast their votes remotely on the monumental bill.
Forty-six lawmakers filed proxy letters this week, with roughly 150 active proxy requests in place with a substantial number planning to continue with their previously scheduled events in their districts.
A sizable portion of the GOP conference is also expected to utilize the mechanism, with 61 Republicans filing to vote remotely on Friday. Eightythree voting Democratic members are listed as having active requests.
NATIONAL POLITICS
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2022-08-12T07:00:00.0000000Z
2022-08-12T07:00:00.0000000Z
https://daily.denvergazette.com/article/281702618493135
The Gazette, Colorado Springs