This week became the subject of focus because House speaker Nancy Pelosi had previously agreed with moderate House Democrats that she would consider the bipartisan infrastructure agreement on Monday. She ended up beginning debate on the bill that day, setting up a vote for Thursday. The date happens to mark the end of the fiscal year, the expiration of government funding, and the end of certain highway funds that were folded into the smaller bipartisan infrastructure bill.

Over the past few weeks, there have been all sorts of declarations that if the bipartisan bill fails or the vote is delayed, then moderates will feel betrayed by leadership and walk away. As noted above, there is a separate argument that the reconciliation bill will be abandoned if the smaller bill passes. Ultimately, however, Thursday’s so-called deadline isn’t a deadline in any real sense.

The only thing that matters is whether there are 50 votes in the Senate for legislation that can also pass the House. That holds true at any time. If the bipartisan infrastructure bill goes down in flames on Thursday, the people who support the bill will still presumably support it a few weeks, or a few months, from now. Similarly, if Manchin and Sinema eventually come around on some form of a reconciliation bill, progressives will still be interested in passing it. From their perspective, more money for community-college tuition or subsidized child care or climate programs will still be desirable, whether it passes in October, December, or sometime thereafter.