Senate Republicans Block Infrastructure Debate, but Negotiators Say They’re Close to a Deal

As expected, Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked debate on a bipartisan infrastructure bill, but negotiators working to finalize the legislation said they were close to agreement and could resolve their remaining disagreements within days.

“We have made significant progress and are close to a final agreement,” the bipartisan group of negotiators said in a statement. “We will continue working hard to ensure we get this critical legislation right — and are optimistic that we will finalize, and be prepared to advance, this historic bipartisan proposal to strengthen America’s infrastructure and create good-paying jobs in the coming days.”

The vote was 49-51 against proceeding, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) joining all Republicans in voting no, a procedural move that will allow him to bring the measure up again as soon as next week.

Eleven Senate Republicans reportedly sent a letter to Schumer Wednesday saying that they would vote to advance the infrastructure package on Monday.