Senate Democrats returned to Washington on Monday suggesting they were far away from reaching a deal on a $3.5 trillion economic package
, raising fresh questions about whether all 50 members of their caucus can quickly unite behind the centerpiece of President Joe Biden's agenda amid sharp divisions over the scope of the plan and ambitious timetable for considering it.
Democratic leaders had hoped that the party could coalesce behind a proposal by Wednesday. But a wide range of Democratic senators made clear that Wednesday's timetable was not achievable, even as party leaders still hope that a bill can be approved by Congress before month's end -- something that would require total party unity in the Senate.
Indeed, some of the party's most vulnerable Democrats would not embrace the eye-popping dollar amount. Asked twice about the $3.5 trillion price tag, Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire said:"I said I'm running into vote.
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