Republican Kevin Brady, who played a leading role in enforcing former President Donald Trump’s comprehensive tax cut bill in 2017, said Thursday he believes Democrats can enforce two massive spending bills through Congress before October.
The prospects for a $ 1 trillion bipartisan physical infrastructure bill and a $ 3.5 trillion budget reconciliation offer worsened last week when a group of centrist Democrats threatened to withhold their support .
The group of nine moderate Democrats called on House Spokeswoman Nancy Pelosi, D-California, to promise a vote on the bipartisan infrastructure package before the Democrat-backed $ 3.5 trillion climate change package, the Poverty and the so-called human infrastructure is passed.
Pelosi and the nine moderates, led by New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer, managed to reach an agreement this week and collectively push $ 4.5 trillion in fiscal stimulus.
CNBC’s Joe Kernen asked Brady for his thoughts on the chances of the Democrats being able to pass both bills in the House of Representatives before the end of September amid a lengthy serve process expected.
The odds “could be good,” answered Brady in the “Squawk Box” interview. “I think the Democrats have a lot of momentum after this week’s vote. I don’t think anyone could have dreamed that the speaker could actually get every member of her conference to give the green light to these tax hikes. But she did. “
Brady’s relentless retirement from Congress was in stark contrast to a defiant House minority leader Kevin McCarthy, who on Wednesday pledged to do whatever it takes to build the multi-trillion-dollar infrastructure backed by President Joe Biden and stop social spending plans.
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“It will be over my corpse because I will do everything in our power to stop it,” McCarthy said when asked if he expects to see trillions of new editions passed by Congress by September.
Both McCarthy and Brady said they oppose the $ 1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill designed to improve the country’s highways, bridges and high-speed broadband access. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Supports this move.
Still, Brady’s tone could echo the thinking of other GOP members who otherwise watched the Democrats use tight majorities in the House and Senate to push Biden’s broad economic agenda through.
Democrats hope their go-big approach will help them maintain control of both houses in the critical 2022 midterm elections while Republicans attack Democrats over fiscal mismanagement and inflation.
A united Democratic house on Tuesday passed a procedural motion along the party lines paving the way for party leaders to draft and approve the $ 3.5 trillion budget adjustment bill without Republican support.
