Biden Begs Democrats to Back Shrunken Spending Measure
President Joe Biden, eager to secure passage of his much-touted economic agenda, met privately with disgruntled House Democrats on Thursday to urge them to support a $1.75 trillion social welfare spending package that leaves out many of their priorities.
“I need you to help me. I need your votes,” Biden told Democrats, according to a source in the room.
“I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that the House and Senate majorities and my presidency will be determined by what happens in the next week,” Biden said.
Biden huddled with Democrats for about an hour in the Capitol basement, where lawmakers filing into the room expressed a combination of resignation and disappointment that their original $3.5 trillion package had been cut in half, forcing out key priorities, including 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave.