Nine Democrats signal opposition to Biden’s welfare plan

WASHINGTON: Nine Democratic lawmakers from the US House of Representatives on Friday threatened to derail the passage of President Joe Biden´s landmark social welfare reform if a key infrastructure bill is not approved first, highlighting party divisions over economic policy.

The moderate Democrats wrote in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that they would thwart the passage of a budget resolution meant to pave the way for the $3.5 trillion social package unless the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill is signed into law first.

The infrastructure bill that funds the construction of roads and bridges across America was approved by the Senate earlier this week with cross-party support, in a big victory for Biden´s administration.

Pelosi had been counting on passing the social bill first and she had summoned lawmakers from their summer recess to vote on the budget resolution at the end of August.