Top progressives say they are all for traditional infrastructure. But they argue that voters put Democrats in full control of the White House and Congress because they had promised to do the kind of big things outlined in Biden’s Build Back Better plan: fund childcare and elder care, community college and preschool; expand Medicare; address the climate crisis; and tax the rich and corporations.

If Democrats fail to go big, progressives said, it would infuriate the liberal base, depress voter turnout, and could cost the party both chambers in next year’s crucial midterms. Republicans only need to flip a handful of Democratic seats to win control of the House; they need to pick up a single net Democratic seat to win back the Senate.

“Inaction is insanity … Trying to kill your party’s agenda is insanity. … Losing the majority in the House in the Senate is insanity,” said Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), one of the leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

“Being sane is trying to do everything that you can to get to the table, negotiate in good faith, not break deals, and deliver on behalf of the American people on the promises that we make.”