Gottheimer: ‘No reason’ why Democrats shouldn’t pass infrastructure bill right away

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) said Sunday that there is “no reason why” Democrats shouldn’t pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill right away.

During an interview with Jake Tapper on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Gottenheimer said he supports the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package but pointed out that it is a separate bill from infrastructure.

“These are two separate bills,” he said. “You’ve got the infrastructure, a historic once-in-a-century [bill]… There’s no reason why we shouldn’t pass that right away and get those shovels in the ground.”

Democratic Rep. Gottheimer says he supports a reconciliation package but argues it is a separate bill from infrastructure.

Gottheimer says “there is no reason why” Democrats shouldn’t pass the infrastructure bill right away. #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/qdFjZyU2N5

— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) September 26, 2021

Gottheimer added that lawmakers should “keep working” on the reconciliation package, which he says he is committed to passing. 

While Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) said the package would pass this week, progressive Democrats vowed to oppose the infrastructure bill unless the House first votes on a $3.5 trillion social spending package serving as the second component of Biden’s Build Back Better plan. 

Pelosi said she expected the bring both the infrastructure bill and the spending package up for a vote in the House this week.