Behind-the-scenes negotiations over the Senate’s $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill dragged on through Saturday — frustrating Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s plans to debate it in an unusual weekend session.
”The longer it takes to finish, the longer we will be here,” Schumer said — a veiled threat to hold the body hostage through its planned August recess. “But we’re going to get the job done.”
Three Democrats — Schumer, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Virginia Sen. Mark Warner — and no Republicans rose to speak before a recess was called after nearly four hours of inaction.
Sixteen Republicans joined all 50 Senate Democrats on Friday to begin debate on the bipartisan measure, even though the text of the bill had not been finalized.
The bipartisan group of moderates who have been haggling over the bill promised to have the final language ready Friday evening — but missed that deadline, leading to the Saturday session’s stall.
The final bill may be ready in time for amendments to be debated Sunday, a Capitol Hill source told The Post.
But some Republicans doubt it can be done.
“This coming week the Senate is supposed to pass a $1 trillion/ 3,000 page infrastructure bill and separately on three major spending bills,” Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) tweeted Saturday. “So far almost no Senator has seen the text of any of these bills.”
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