| It’s a game of “Beat the Clock” today as lawmakers try again to strike a deal and President Biden continues negotiating to get his agenda through Congress, squeezing in an appeal to House Democrats and a morning speech from the East Room before flying overseas at midday. Top lawmakers on Wednesday said they were bullish about hammering out an agreement even as new tripwires emerged over paid parental leave, taxing the wealthy and how to offset a potential $1.75 trillion price tag. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told reporters that the party is in “pretty good shape” in terms of reaching that goal. Democrats, however, face continuing hurdles after Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) criticized as “convoluted” a proposed new tax that would impact about 700 billionaires (The Hill). Biden is expected to meet this morning with the House Democratic Caucus before leaving the country for a global summit (CNN, The New York Times and The Associated Press). The Washington Post: The president is reported to have in hand for his meeting with House Democrats new specifics for a framework deal. The president’s advisers on Wednesday huddled with Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.) for roughly two hours at the Capitol (The Hill). Much to the chagrin of Biden and progressives, the administration’s national paid family leave proposal dropped from the budget framework, setting off a furious attempt by Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) to cajole Manchin to their side (The Wall Street Journal). As The Hill’s Alexander Bolton reports, the two Democrats cornered the West Virginia centrist on the Senate floor in an attempt to soften his resistance. Murray insisted the proposed support for families is still in the package. “It’s not out,” she said, recounting her conversation with Manchin. “He said he will keep an open mind. He is not a no.” Among the major provisions sought by Democrats still in the spending plan: expanded health care programs, free pre-kindergarten and $500 billion to tackle climate change. The Associated Press: A Biden deal is in “pretty good shape,” but no breakthrough. The Washington Post: Paid leave for families at risk of falling out of spending deal. CNBC: Medicare expansion hangs in the balance. One Democratic senator briefed on the negotiations said White House officials “are certainly increasing the intensity and pace of the talks” because Biden wants to show significant progress before departing today for Rome (The Hill). 
© Associated Press/Susan Walsh The Hill: Crucial talks about the Biden agenda enter the homestretch. Politico: Liberal frustration imperils quick Democratic social spending deal. Pelosi also attempted to move the ball down the field on Wednesday, announcing that the House Rules Committee will discuss portions of the budget framework, although there’s no legislative text and no consensus. As The Hill’s Mike Lillis notes, the panel, which typically marks up legislation as the last step before a floor vote, is conducting a rare "hearing" instead — a signal that Democratic leaders want to project a sense of momentum. “We are close to agreement on the priorities and the topline of the legislation, which can and must pass the House and Senate,” Pelosi wrote in a “Dear Colleague” letter. Mike Lillis and Scott Wong, The Hill: Lack of trust mangles Democratic efforts to reach deal. Cristina Marcos and Jordain Carney, The Hill: Patience wears thin as Democrats miss deadlines. The Washington Post: Vulnerable House Democrats are worried about what is being left out of Biden’s economic package. Also on the table for Democratic leaders is a potential vote today on the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure legislation that has been in limbo since the Senate passed it almost three months ago. Hoyer told reporters that it could “possibly” happen, but all indications would point to the contrary, as Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), head of the Congressional Progressive caucus, once again poo-pooed the idea. Jayapal indicated that “there are over three dozen members” of her caucus “who feel strongly” that a framework deal on the reconciliation package will not pass muster in order to unlock votes to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill and that only a final vote on the mammoth spending proposal will do (Politico). One House Democrat told the Morning Report that continued hesitation among progressives has a lot to do with the ongoing talks with centrist Democratic senators, especially Sinema. Put simply, they don’t believe a final deal is done until it is carved in stone. “I have always felt like if Manchin and Sinema came out and said yes to an agreement, that it would be good enough to unlock the votes for the BIF,” the Democratic member said, using the acronym for the bipartisan infrastructure framework. “But let’s face it, a lot of members don’t trust Sinema.” The Hill: Manchin dampens progressive hopes for billionaires tax. NBC News: Billionaires tax faces constitutional, political hurdles. Bloomberg News: The White House is urging GOP lawmakers to make a 2022 budget offer and begin talks now, hoping to get appropriations passed before a Dec. 3 deadline. 
© Associated Press/Jacquelyn Martin More in Congress: Democrats are gearing up for a showdown with Big Oil during a House hearing today. Executives from Exxon Mobil, BP, Chevron and Shell — as well as two major trade groups — will testify (The Hill and The Associated Press). … A proposed Democratic tax on billionaires, if enacted, would potentially impact some famous names at the top of U.S. technology companies (The Hill). | 
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