Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are returning to work after the Thanksgiving holiday faced with a logjam of make-or-break votes that will provide another crucial test of Joe Biden’s political power in the run-up to Christmas.
After the president signed a $1.2tn bipartisan infrastructure bill into law earlier in the month, Chuck Schumer, Democratic Senate majority leader, has vowed to pass the second flagship piece of Biden’s legislative agenda — a $1.75tn investment in America’s social safety net — by December 25, a significant challenge given the long list of issues still dividing his party.
At the same time, the clock is ticking for Democrats to strike several deals with Republicans to avert a federal government shutdown, avoid a default and keep funding the US military — all before the end of the year.
Amy Klobuchar, the Democratic senator from Minnesota, likened the impending “drama” to a “mini-series”, but insisted Democrats could get through their checklist…