OPINION | This article contains commentary that reflects the author's opinion.
Ben Cardin was picked up on a hot mic telling Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg that the budget process would “most likely” be needed to get an infrastructure package into the end zone, according to Fox News.
Cardin was caught saying that Democrats will “most likely have to use reconciliation” to push an infrastructure package through Congress.
“Ultimately, it’s going to be put together similar to how the American Rescue Plan was put together …,” Cardin was caught saying. “Most likely, we’re going to have to use reconciliation.”
Sen. Ben Cardin, as heard on a C-SPAN mic, tells Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg that Democrats will “most likely have to use reconciliation” on an infrastructure package as they did with the Covid relief bill.
“The Republicans will be with you to a point, and then—“ pic.twitter.com/d4Pc49WlIl
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) March 15, 2021
“Why would we print and borrow $2 trillion when we’re so close to crushing this virus and returning to a way of life that all Americans sacrificed?” asked Rep. Lloyd Smucker, R-Penn.
From Fox News:
Budget reconciliation is a parliamentary procedure that gained recognition as the Democrats looked for an avenue to get their COVID-19 relief bill, the American Rescue Plan, past a Senate filibuster and to President Joe Biden’s desk. It allows lawmakers to sidestep Senate filibusters. So no 60-vote requirement there. All you need is to find a simple majority to pass whatever bill you insert into a budget reconciliation package.
So, essentially, Cardin and the Senate Democrats can pass an infrastructure legislative package so long as they have 51 votes to pass the measure through budget reconciliation — an easier feat for Democrats to accomplish in the 50/50 Senate with Vice President Kamala Harris’ tie-breaking vote.
