Senate ready for final vote on infrastructure bill even if it does add billions to national debt

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Human infrastructure might get in the way of transportation infrastructure.

On Aug. 8, the Senate voted to end debate on a $1 trillion infrastructure bill, and a final vote could happen Aug. 10. However, there are some potholes sitting in the way.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) continued to make a threat that her chamber would not vote on an infrastructure measure until the Senate approves a budget reconciliation bill … which also is being called the human infrastructure bill.

Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) voted no to end debate on the infrastructure measure on Sunday night and said he would reject the package during a final vote. Young is not comfortable with the funding formula and is worried Pelosi will hold the infrastructure bill hostage if the Senate does not do anything with the budget reconciliation bill. The Senate put an end to debating the bill by a 68-29 count.

A sticking point during debate was the bill’s cryptocurrency regulation and whether or not to use COVID-19 aid to pay for a portion of the plan. Last week, the Congressional Budget Office said the infrastructure measure would tack on $256 billion to the federal deficit over the next 10 years. The legislation calls for $550 billion in new spending. Between 2021 and 2031, direct spending would be decreased by $110 billion, revenues would be boosted by $50 billion and discretionary spending would rise by $415 billion.

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