An array of progressive groups have launched a six-figure advertising and lobbying campaign to persuade nine moderate House Democrats to abandon hardball tactics that the left fears will endanger President Joe Biden s proposed $3.5 trillion budget package.

The bloc of centrists, led by Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), is threatening to withhold support for the more transformative, $3.5 trillion spending framework if the House does not first pass a $550 billion bipartisan infrastructure bill that has already cleared the Senate.

Progressives, with the agreement of Democratic Party leaders, fear that passing the less controversial infrastructure bill first will jeopardize the more ambitious legislation aiming to dramatically expand the United States social safety net and turbo-charge efforts to fight climate change.

Making sure that we have conservative Democratic votes on the budget resolution and reconciliation package before moving their bipartisan infrastructure package across the finish line is the way to make sure that both get through, said Mary Small, national advocacy director for the Indivisible Project, a progressive advocacy coalition.