I honestly did not think this would ever happen when President Biden took office, but he's done it; he has somehow managed to move a $1 trillion infrastructure spending bill through the Senate without the use of reconciliation.
The bipartisan spending bill -- which includes $550 billion in new spending -- cleared the Senate this morning and it will now head to the House of Representatives on its way to Biden's desk.
And the final vote wasn't even close!
From the Associated Press:
The 69-30 tally provides momentum for this first phase of Biden’s “Build Back Better” priorities, now headed to the House. A sizable number of lawmakers showed they were willing to set aside partisan pressures, eager to send billions to their states for rebuilding roads, broadband internet, water pipes and the public works systems that underpin much of American life.
In all, 19 Republicans joined all Democrats in voting for Senate passage. Vice President Kamala Harris, as presiding officer, announced the final tally. [...]
The measure proposes nearly $550 billion in new spending over five years in addition to current federal authorizations for public works that will reach virtually every corner of the country — a potentially historic expenditure Biden has put on par with the building of the transcontinental railroad or interstate highway system.
Even Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell voted for final passage of this bill. That is an almost inconceivable sentence to write.
The bad news - if you want to call it that - is that the House of Representatives is currently in recess until September and will not send the bill to Biden's desk until they return.
In the grand scheme of things a delay of a month or even two is not that big of a deal as the spending will be doled out over a matter of years, not months. And on the bright side, the Biden White House will have a second opportunity to declare victory next month.