Straight Arrow News Political Producer Annie Anderson covers the big stories out of the nation’s capitol, including progress on an infrastructure deal, a recommendation for masks in Congress, and Texas Democrats expected to testify in D.C.
The Senate voted Wednesday night to start work on a nearly $1 trillion infrastructure package.
The vote came after lead GOP negotiator Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio announced the bipartisan group’s agreement earlier in the day. “We now have an agreement on the major issues. We are prepared to move forward,” Sen. Portman said.
The deal, a welcome sign on both side of the aisle. “We have not made a major investment in the infrastructure the United States of America for the last 30 years, first time,” Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin said. “And when you see the bipartisanship here, bipartisanship is built because relationships, relationships are built when there’s trust, and the more we continue to do things such as this, the more you’ll see more bipartisanship.”
Another similarity between both sides of the aisle: They’re both being asked to wear a mask on Capitol Hill.
Congress’ chief physician urged lawmakers to resume wearing masks Wednesday to slow the spread of the Delta variant.
Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and many of his fellow Republicans refused to mask up. “Make no mistake—The threat of bringing masks back is not a decision based on science, but a decision conjured up by liberal government officials who want to continue to live in a perpetual pandemic state,” McCarthy said in a tweet.
The physician’s recommendation comes a day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said vaccinated people should wear masks indoors in areas of substantial or high COVID-19 transmission.
It also comes a day before the over 50 Texas state representatives who left their state legislature in the middle of a faceoff over voting rights were expected on Capitol Hill.
The Democratic representatives were set testify at the civil rights and civil liberties subcommittee meeting. Six of the representatives have tested positive for COVID-19 since arriving in Washington.
