Parliamentarian rejects Dems' immigration provisions for 3rd time

• Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) told reporters on Capitol Hill that he was "disappointed" and that Democrats "are considering what options remain."

Between the lines: Democrats have already banded together to pass a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill focused on road and bridge construction. The $1.75 trillion follow-on package targets climate change and would expand the social safety net.

• The rejected proposal would have provided protection from deportation, work permits and potential access to other benefits for millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S.
• The Congressional Budget Office estimated 6.5 million people would have qualified.

What they're saying: The Senate parliamentarian wrote in a memo, "These are substantial policy changes with lasting effects just like those we previously considered and outweigh the budgetary impact."

• Senate Democratic leaders say they have not given up on pursuing immigration reform, promising in a statement to "pursue every means to achieve a pathway to citizenship in the Build Back Better Act."

The big picture: Two earlier and more expansive plans have already been rejected by the Senate parliamentarian, the first of which offered pathways to citizenship for as many as 8 million immigrants.

• In earlier decisions, the parliamentarian criticized the provisions as being too sweeping and focused on immigration policy, rather than the budget — a requirement for legislation passed through the reconciliation process.
• The iterative "Byrd Bath" process allows a back and forth between the parliamentarian and lawmakers.