House prepares to debate, vote after bolstering Biden’s bill

The House is preparing to debate and vote on a revised draft of President Joe Biden’s now$1.85 trillion-and-growing domestic policy package as well as a companion $1 trillion infrastructure bill, with

Democrats eager to show voters they can deliver on priorities.

With a flurry of latebreaking adjustments, the Democrats added key provisions to what has grown to a sprawling 2,135-page package — adding back a new paid family leave program,work permits for immigrants and changes to state and local tax deductions. Both the overall price tag and the revenue to pay for it are expected to grow. A new White House assessment Thursday said revenue from the taxes on corporations and the wealthy and other changes are estimated to bring in $2.1 trillion over 10 years, according to a summary obtained by The Associated Press. That’s up from what had been $1.9 trillion in earlier estimates.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi noted a similar assessment Thursday by the bipartisan Joint Committee on Taxation.

“It truly is formidably paid for,” Pelosi said, echoing Biden’s frequent remark.

Votes are possible Thursday, with the Democrats anxious to finish up the president’s signature package after drawn-out talks on Capitol Hill were partly blamed for the party’s dismal election results in bellwether states this week.

“It was not a good night,” Pelosi acknowledged. “Getting the job done, producing results for the American people, is always very positive.”

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announced House votes were possible on both Biden’s big bill of social services and climate change programs and the slimmer bipartisan infrastructure package that had stalled amid deliberations. Voting, though, could also push until Friday or even into the weekend, he and others said.