Monday marked the 21st day of June, a month that Joe Biden hoped would see the passage of his extreme voting rights power grab, as well as a huge infrastructure bill. So far, neither has happened and CBS This Morning journalists began to fret about what to do next. In fact, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki seemed to indicate that the so-called “For the People” act was doomed.
Co-host Anthony Mason asked Psaki if the White House had an alternative strategy: “Jen, as Kris Van Cleave mentioned, a vote is expected as early as Tuesday on sweeping voting rights reform. That bill is looking to come up short of the 60 votes it needs. If it does fail, what is the President's next move on this?”
It was at this point that Psaki seemed to give away the game, conceding, “And yes, I wouldn't say we expect there to be ten magical votes to appear from the Republicans in the Senate. They've been pretty clear that they don't want to make it easier to vote. This is a first step. We'll see where it goes.”
Just prior to this segment, a CBS graphic worried about the lack of accomplishments in the month of June: “Pres. Biden’s Agenda in Jeopardy? Domestic Priorities Facing Opposition From His Own Party.”
Guest co-host Michelle Miller fretted that even the left was now turning on the Biden agenda: “Those initiatives face strong opposition from Republicans, and even some Democrats are unhappy with the latest debate on infrastructure.” Regarding a trillion dollar compromise by Republicans, reporter Kris Van Cleave surprisingly used the L-word to showcase lefty opposition:
But some liberal senators may not support it saying it does not do enough to fight climate change or income inequality.
Van Cleave closed by noting that time is quickly running out on Biden: “the clock is ticking. The Senate goes on recess at the end of the week for two weeks. In July, they're going to have to start dealing with raising the debt ceiling.”
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Transcripts are below. Click “expand” to read more.
CBS This Morning
6/21/2021
7:06CBS Graphic: “Pres. Biden’s Agenda in Jeopardy? Domestic Priorities Facing Opposition From His Own Party”
MICHELLE MILLER: Democratic leaders in Congress plan to give President Biden's domestic agenda a big test this week. The President's plans for infrastructure, voting rights, and police reform are all on the line. Those initiatives face strong opposition from Republicans, and even some Democrats are unhappy with the latest debate on infrastructure. Kris Van Cleave is on capitol hill. Where does that issue stand now?
KRIS VAN CLEAVE: Well, good morning. A lot of it is going to depend on President Biden's next move. We could hear as soon as today what the president thinks about this bipartisan infrastructure compromise. But already we're hearing from some Democrats who say they could be a no vote. After a bipartisan group of 21 senators backed a compromise on infrastructure, Republicans are calling on President Biden to take the offer.
SENATOR LINDSAY GRAHAM: President Biden, if you want an infrastructure deal of a trillion dollars, it's there for the taking. You just need to get involved and lead.
VAN CLEAVE: The roughly $1 trillion package is about half the size of the President's more than $2 trillion plan. It focuses largely on traditional infrastructure projects and has enough GOP backing to pass the Senate if all Democrats get on board. But some liberal senators may not support it saying it does not do enough to fight climate change or income inequality.
SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS: The time is long overdue that we address many of the long-neglected problems facing the middle class and working class of this country.
MAN: Passed voter suppression laws --
VAN CLEAVE: On voting rights the Senate is poised to vote on a bill Tuesday meant to push back against new restrictive voter laws in several states. Democrats are trying to get all 50 members on board. West Virginia's Joe Manchin, the holdout, offered a compromise with items Republicans support like voter I.D. Requirements and allowing state officials to purge voter rolls. Republicans still oppose it, likely dooming the bill.
SENATOR ROB PORTMAN: It takes the election system in this country and federalizes it, so it's a federal takeover of our election system.
VAN CLEAVE: And police reform negotiations are ongoing. Senator Tim Scott has said he needed a deal by the end of the month or he was out. Senator Graham told us last week he thought a deal could be close. Of course, the clock is ticking. The Senate goes on recess at the end of the week for two weeks. In July, they're going to have to start dealing with raising the debt ceiling.
7:11
ANTHONY MASON: Jen, as Kris Van Cleave mentioned, a vote is expected as early as Tuesday on sweeping voting rights reform. That bill is looking to come up short of the 60 votes it needs. If it does fail, what is the President's next move on this?
JEN PSAKI: Well, let me say that voting rights, making it more accessible, easier to vote, is not just a one-week process or one-week commitment by the President. This is going to be a cause of his presidency. And yes, I wouldn't say we expect there to be ten magical votes to appear from the Republicans in the Senate. They've been pretty clear that they don't want to make it easier to vote. They don't want to make it more accessible to vote. This is a first step. We'll see where it goes. The president asked his Vice President, his partner, to lead this effort over the coming months, and expect she and he will continue to be out there in states working with legislators to see how we can work together on making it more accessible for people across the country.
