Congressional Democrats are scaling back major items in President Biden’s agenda in order to appease moderates and pass both infrastructure bills by Oct. 31.

The bill was originally worth $3.5 trillion and is now being negotiated between $1.5 and $2 trillion.

Programs Democrats decided to cut out of the bill were free community college and clean electricity standards designed to reduce carbon emissions and create millions of jobs. The expanded child tax credit is also expected to expire after a year or two and paid family and medical leave is expected to be reduced from 12 weeks to just four.

The most devastating cutback in the negotiations would be the expansion of Medicare which was originally designed to cover hearing, dental, and vision. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi acknowledged dental would be the most expensive to fund and that Democrats are willing to drop it.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., has said he does not support any expansion of Medicare.

“We have a moral obligation to provide for those who have incapacity ... everyone else should be able to help and chip in, so that's my mindset," Manchin said.

“It's not fiscally responsible ... I want to make sure we shore up everything," Manchin said.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., swung back at Manchin. “The expansion of Medicare to cover dental, hearing and vision is one of the most popular and important provisions in the entire reconciliation bill. It’s what the American people want. It’s not coming out," posted on Twitter.

Despite the disagreements, Manchin says Democrats should be able to agree on a framework by the end of the week.

"Having it finished with all the t's and the i's and everything you know crossed and dotted that will be difficult from the Senate side because we have an awful lot of text to go through, but as far as conceptually we should, I really believe," Manchin said.

Biden visited New Jersey on Monday to promote his Build Back Better agenda.

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