Should Progressives in Congress Oppose Biden's Infrastructure Deal If Reconciliation Bill Is Blocked?

The $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill is making its way through the Senate this week. The outcome of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which calls for $550 billion in new spending and reuses some unused COVID-19 relief aid, will set the stage for debate on Biden's much larger $3.5 trillion package, which Democrats hope to pass with a simple majority using the reconciliation process in the Senate. Jacobin staff writer Branko Marcetic says progressives must fight for the larger package and be willing to block the bipartisan bill, if needed. If that reconciliation bill looks like it's actually going to get blocked, then progressives need to use their numbers and use their leverage and wield power that they really have in this Congress," he says.