U.S. President Joe Biden canceled plans to travel to Chicago on Wednesday in order to continue leading crucial negotiations in Washington over his legislative agenda.
Biden scrapped his travel plans following meetings Tuesday with Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona.
The meetings aimed at bridging the gap between the moderate senators and progressive lawmakers over the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation legislation and the fate of the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal.
"In meetings and calls over the weekend and through today, President Biden has been engaging with members of Congress on the path forward for the Build Back Better Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal,” a White House official told CNN.
“He will now remain at the White House tomorrow to continue working on advancing these two pieces of legislation to create jobs, grow the economy, and make investments in families, rather than failed giveaways to the rich and big corporations," the official added.
The decision's canceling is a sign of how critical the next two days will be in determining the fate of the centerpieces of Biden's legislative agenda as well as the central role the President is playing in stewarding those negotiations.
Biden stayed behind closed doors on Tuesday in meetings with Manchin and Sinema, while also speaking on the phone with progressive lawmakers, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
The American President was scheduled to travel to Chicago on Wednesday to highlight the effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccine requirements. A White House official said the trip would be rescheduled.
"There will be more to come on his engagement over the next couple of days, and the trip to Chicago to discuss the ongoing importance of getting people vaccinated will be rescheduled," the White House official said.
Follow the latest news on Google News
