Clyburn on spending bill: ‘I feel very comfortable that we’re gonna get there’

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said during a discussion of the Democrats’ $3.5 trillion spending plan on Sunday that the “real expense” would be if the government did not address the issues the package aims to fund. 

“We cannot continue with this pandemic. We’ve got to spend the money that is necessary to get beyond it,” Clyburn said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

“Our leadership is on this. We are working with everybody in all corners of our party. They’re trying to get to a common ground on these issues, and I feel very comfortable that we’re gonna get there,” Clyburn said. 

His comments come as progressive leaders have said they will vote against the bipartisan infrastructure plan on Sept. 27 unless it is accompanied by the $3.5 trillion budget deal. 

Clyburn noted on Sunday that a delay in the House vote regarding the infrastructure bill on Sept. 27 is “always a possibility.” 

Clyburn added that he planned to “work hard” to reach the goal of voting on Sept. 27. 

“I think that we ought to really focus on the American people and think about what it takes to get us in a good place and then let the numbers take care of themselves,” Clyburn said. 

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) has previously said he would support a spending bill with a far lower price tag of $1.5 trillion at most. Progressives, meanwhile, say they will not go lower than $3.5 trillion. 

“We are going to find common ground. You may want to call it compromise, but that’s what I call it — finding common ground,” Clyburn said on CNN.