Democrats Cut Spending Package To $1.9 Trillion, Drop Free Community College

President Joe Biden and Democrats continue to negotiate the final price tag of their spending package where both sides believe an agreement can be reached between $1.75 trillion and $1.9 trillion, after removing free community college and curtailing the child tax credit.

The slimmed package will still include priorities such as universal pre-K and an expansion of Medicare. Billions will be allocated to address climate change, but parts of the climate agenda will be scaled back. Paid leave will be cut from 12 weeks to four, and less money will be allocated toward affordable housing than initially envisioned, while eldercare and insurance tax credits remain on the table. The child tax credit would only be extended for one additional year, according to reports.

"After a day of constructive meetings, the president is more confident this evening about the path forward to delivering for the American people on strong, sustained economic growth that benefits everyone," White Houe Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement Tuesday night.

"There was broad agreement that there is urgency in moving forward over the next several days and that the window for finalizing a package is closing,” Psaki said.

Progressives and moderates in the party have been butting heads over the price tag over the past several months with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., insisting the floor for the bill should be $3.5 trillion, while Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona argued the bill should be between $1 trillion and $2 trillion.

"All our priorities are there in some way, shape or form,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., chair of the progressive caucus.

“There was universal agreement in that room, that we have to come to an agreement, and we got to get it done and want to get it done this week,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

Biden has put all of his political capital behind a two-track plan to improve the nation’s infrastructure and social safety net. The first bill is a $1.2 trillion bipartisan agreement geared toward improving the nation’s roads, highways, bridges, public transportation, waterways, and broadband. The second is designed to improve the social safety net and avoid a Republican filibuster.

Democrats aim to pass the president's agenda by Oct. 31.