Democrats in late-night dash to salvage Biden’s $3.5T deal

By LISA MASCARO
AP Congressional Correspondent

WASHINGTON (AP) — Determined not to let his government overhaul collapse, President Joe Biden has cleared his schedule and Speaker Nancy Pelosi has pushed the House into a late-night session. The Democratic leaders are working to negotiate a scaled-back $3.5 trillion plan that Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and other centrists would accept. Manchin says he can support only $1.5 trillion. At immediate risk was the first piece, a slimmer $1 trillion public works bill. Votes are still possible on that late Thursday. But progressive lawmakers won’t support it unless it’s linked to Biden’s broader vision. Meanwhile, Biden has signed a bill keeping the government funded past Thursday’s fiscal yearend.