U.S. Democrats battle over climate change plans in $3.5 trillion bill

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Democratic senators face
reporters following weekly policy lunch on
Capitol Hill in Washington

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Negotiators of a U.S. bill to invest up to $3.5 trillion to expand social programs and attack climate change gave hints of progress on Monday, but some Democrats were resigned to the increasing likelihood that a proposal to reduce carbon emissions will be weakened or scrapped.

"Over the last weekend I held many productive conversations" with lawmakers and the White House, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, said. "We still have work to do," he added, without providing details in a Senate floor speech.

The legislation is a pillar of President Joe Biden's domestic agenda. He was set to speak on Monday with Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, whose support for the wide-ranging proposal is key to its passage.

Full story at Yahoo News.

By Richard Cowan and David Morgan.