House Democrats force Build Back Better Act forward without CBO score

November 5, 2021 carleyshaffer1 US 0

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 01: Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) speaks during a news conference with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) to announce legislation that would tax the net worth of America's wealthiest individuals at the U.S. Capitol on March 01, 2021 in Washington, DC. Citing growing inequalities during the coronavirus pandemic, Jayapal, Warren and Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) introduced the bill that would apply a two-percent tax on people worth more than $50 million and an additional one-percent surcharge for net worth above $1 billion. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – MARCH 01: Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) speaks during a news conference with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) to announce legislation that would tax the net worth of America’s wealthiest individuals at the U.S. Capitol on March 01, 2021 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 12:14 PM PT – Friday, November 5, 2021

Democrats force the Build Back Better Act out of committee, but the future of the social spending plan still remains unclear.

The House Rules Committee advanced the reconciliation package in a 9-4 vote along party lines late Thursday night. This comes despite Republicans’ request for a motion to wait until the bill is scored by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

“I have a feeling that no matter what that score says and whether or not it reinforces what I’m saying here today, I don’t think any of my colleagues on this side of the dice will vote for this bill at the end of the day anyway,” said Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.). To which Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-Minn.) fired back stating, “but none the less Mr. Chair, we should be able to understand what’s in the bill.”

🚨NEW: Leadership believes no CBO score until THANKSGIVING WEEK, per sources in both parties. We may see some elements of the bill scored. But no total score for several weeks.

— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) November 5, 2021

Now, the motion to proceed on further debate of the bill has been stalled in the full House with moderate Democrats joining Republicans in their demand for a CBO score. Democrat leaders had hoped to push the bill forward with cost analysis from the Treasury Department and the White House.

Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) told reporters he thinks the House version of the bill is so “defective” it won’t pass in the Senate, even if it’s passed by the lower chamber. Meanwhile, leadership sources say the CBO score isn’t expected until the week of Thanksgiving.