Democrats’ $3.5 Trillion Budget Win Exposes Cracks in Party (1)

President Joe Biden’s economic agenda took a major step forward Wednesday with Senate passage of a $3.5 trillion budget framework, but the bill that opens the way for the biggest expansion of federal social spending immediately exposed division among Democrats.

The outline passed the Senate over unified Republican opposition, but translating it into law will require Biden and Democratic congressional leaders keeping their party’s moderate and progressive wings marching together.

Just hours after Democrats passed the budget blueprint on a party-line 50-49 vote, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia said he couldn’t support a social spending bill with a ...