Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Wednesday that she was adding paid family and medical leave into the social spending package being considered by the House of Representatives.
The two initiatives – both planks of President Joe Biden’s presidential campaign – were previously jettisoned from the social spending framework because of objections from Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia.
Manchin reiterated his opposition to both measures, telling reporters Wednesday morning, “That’s a challenge, very much a challenge. And they know how I feel about that.”
CNN reports:
Pelosi’s move suggests a shift in strategy: Adding policies in the bill that can help it in the House — such as paid leave — only to have it stripped in the Senate. So the bills will likely have to ping pong and be sent back to the House once the Senate changes it.
Pelosi had insisted for months, including to CNN just this week, she would only move a bill that can pass the Senate. She wanted to spare her moderates a tough vote twice, though that no longer seems to be the case.
Bloomberg reports that “the leave, according to a person familiar with the discussions, would be four weeks and it would be a permanent program, starting in 2024. Its price tag is around $200 billion, the person said.”
The updated text of the social spending bill will be presented to the House Rules Committee on Wednesday. It is unclear when it will be presented to the full House.
“Today is another momentous day in our historic effort to make the future better for the American people,” Pelosi wrote in a letter to colleagues.
Axios adds:
Asked if Tuesday’s results, in which Democrat Terry McAuliffe lost decisively to Republican Glenn Youngkin in Virginia’s gubernatorial race, would change the agenda in Congress, Pelosi replied bluntly: “No.”
On the other hand, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) told reporters, “The D in Democrats should stand for do-er, not delay, dithering, do nothing, division.”
