Pelosi: In 'good shape' on Biden plan, infrastructure bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told colleagues Wednesday that Democrats are in “pretty good shape” on President Joe Biden's sweeping domestic plan and a related $1 trillion infrastructure bill as they race to wrap up talks ahead of his departure for global summits.

Her upbeat comments came as Biden and Democrats try to strike agreement on his big proposal, now about $1.75 trillion in social services and climate change programs, to show foreign leaders the U.S. is getting things done under his still-new administration.

White House officials were meeting at the Capitol with two key holdout Democrats, Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, according to a person granted anonymity to discuss the private meetings.

Pelosi told colleagues she would communicate later in the day on developments, according to another person who requested anonymity to discuss the speaker’s private remarks at a meeting of House Democrats.

“That will determine, our timetable, our course of action but we are in pretty good shape,” she said.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer sounded a similar chord opening the chamber.

“An agreement is within arm’s length,” said Schumer, D-N.Y. “We are hopeful that we can come to a framework agreement by the end of today.”

The quickening pace of negotiations came as Senate Democrats pushed past skeptics Wednesday and unveiled a new billionaires’ tax proposal, designed to help pay for the package and edge his party closer to an overall agreement.

There's a Sunday deadline to approve the smaller, bipartisan roads-and-bridges infrastructure bill or risk allowing funds for routine transportation programs to expire. But that $1 trillion bill has been held up by progressive lawmakers who are refusing to give their support...