GOP blocks infrastructure debate as negotiators near deal

Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked the Senate from debating infrastructure as negotiators say they are near finalizing their agreement.

The 49-51 vote fell short of the 60 needed to advance what is effectively stand-in legislation that senators will swap the bipartisan group’s text into once it is finished.

Wednesday’s vote comes as the bipartisan group has been meeting around the clock, including late into Tuesday night and again on Wednesday, as they try to lock down their deal, after announcing at the White House late last month with President Biden that they had agreed to a $1.2-trillion, eight-year framework.