Democrats haggle as deal comes into focus

Disagreements among Democrats on several key issues, including ambitious proposals to expand Medicare benefits and lower the price of prescription drugs, are holding up a framework agreement on a major budget reconciliation package.

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) are pushing hard to reach a deal on the reconciliation bill this week to give President Biden something to take to a global climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, next week.

They also want to boost Biden and their party before Tuesday’s high-stakes gubernatorial contest in Virginia by having the House pass a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill.