EDITORIAL: Inching closer to approval of an infrastructure bill -- don't blow it

Aug. 29—We were happy to learn that Rep. Joe Courtney, the region's Second District congressman, and his fellow centrist House Democrats were able to win a concession from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that will bring the infrastructure bill to a vote by the end of September.

Unfortunately, it could still fall victim to a split in the Democratic caucus between the centrists and their more progressive counterparts. That would be bad news for the country, which could greatly benefit from an investment in infrastructure. It would be bad news for President Biden, who desperately needs domestic policy victories after the foreign policy debacle that is the retreat from Afghanistan. And ultimately it would be bad news politically for the Democrats who, heading into the congressional election year of 2022, would have to explain why they failed to get an infrastructure bill done.

All this makes it rather ludicrous that many House Democrats seem willing to play an all-or-nothing game.

Long and torturous negotiations led the Senate a month ago to approve a $1 trillion infrastructure deal, with $550 billion in new spending above already projected expenditures. A key procedural vote to move it forward in the Senate attracted 17 Republican votes.

It probably should be bigger, and it doesn't do enough to address climate change, as a House version did, but it is substantial. Funding is included for roads and bridges, rail renovation and expansion, improved ports and airports, updating water and sewer systems, expanding broadband in rural areas, and building out a network of electric vehicle charging stations.

But Democrats have another big initiative, one for which there is no Republican support, the Biden "Build Back Better" proposal — estimated at $3.5 trillion over 10 years. It is a major social initiative intended to attack poverty and bolster the middle class.

Its proposals include providing paid family and medical leave as a federal entitlement, subsidizing child and elder care, extending the child tax credits, providing universal prekindergarten and free community college, investing in affordable housing, and enhancing Medicare to cover dental, vision and hearing — just to name a few. The big tax cuts awarded the rich and corporations during the Trump years would be rolled back to pay for it, at least partially.

Democrats are attempting to use a budgetary procedure to get around the 60-vote filibuster rule in the Senate. To be successful would require most every Democratic vote in the House and all of them in the Senate.

House progressives fear that if they back the infrastructure bill they will lose leverage in getting the votes they need for their big social agenda. So, they may choose to hold the infrastructure bill hostage unless they get what they want — Build Back Better.

This is a dangerous game and a bad strategy. The better approach is to get that infrastructure bill passed when it is presented around Sept. 27. Then Democrats can work on their social agenda. Build Back Better would likely have to trim down substantially to get across the finish line with the support of moderate Democrats, but that's politics.

We urge Courtney, who said he supports the infrastructure bill, and Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Third District, chair of the powerful Appropriations Committee, to do all they can to persuade Democrats to unite in getting the bill passed as the first order of business.

The Day editorial board meets regularly with political, business and community leaders and convenes weekly to formulate editorial viewpoints. It is composed of President and Publisher Tim Dwyer, Editorial Page Editor Paul Choiniere, Managing Editor Izaskun E. Larrañeta, staff writer Erica Moser and retired deputy managing editor Lisa McGinley. However, only the publisher and editorial page editor are responsible for developing the editorial opinions. The board operates independently from the Day newsroom.