Progressives derail vote on infrastructure bill, send Biden off empty-handed to G20 in Rome

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi delayed a vote on the Senate-passed infrastructure bill on Thursday as progressives continued to insist on linking it to a vote on the Build Back Better Act, sending President Joe Biden off to Europe empty-handed and undercut by his own party as he prepares to meet with world leaders.

Biden rolled out an updated framework for the revised $1.75 trillion Build Back Better Act on Thursday before flying to Rome for the G20 summit. Democrats are trying to pass it through budget reconciliation without GOP votes.

House progressives are holding out for something more tangible than a framework with details to be determined.

"Members of our Caucus will not vote for the infrastructure bill without the Build Back Better Act," House Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal wrote on Twitter. "We will work immediately to finalize and pass both pieces of legislation through the House together."

Biden negotiated with senators to craft the infrastructure bill that passed the Senate with bipartisan support.

Pelosi had previously set a deadline of Oct. 31 for passage of the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill. 

The House is voting on an extension of federal highway funding through Dec. 3 in the absence of passage of the infrastructure bill.