Democrats and liberal groups want to renew negotiations on President Biden’s $1.75 trillion social welfare and climate change package in hopes of striking a deal before the end of February.
Lawmakers point to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and increasing inflation as an impetus for passing the package, known as the Build Back Better Act.
“In the months since negotiations around the Build Back Better Act stalled, the case for this legislation has only become more urgent,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Washington Democrat and chair of the 98-member Congressional Progressive Caucus. “This desperately needed relief cannot be delayed any longer.”
Far-left Democrats like Ms. Jayapal add that if a deal does not materialize by March 1, the bill could be permanently sidelined by other legislative business, including the Supreme Court vacancy caused by Justice Stephen G. Breyer’s retirement.
The timing is also political.
Democrats want Mr. Biden to use this year’s State of the Union address, set for March 1, as a platform to trumpet their accomplishments ahead of the midterm elections.
“For the state of our union to truly be strong — in a way that working people can feel in their lives — now is the time for Democrats in the House and Senate to make good on those promises, enact the president’s vision and pass the Build Back Better Act,” Ms. Jayapal said.
More than 250 progressive groups, including major labor unions like the AFL-CIO and the SEIU, are backing the March 1 timeline.
The SEIU is even launching an $800,000 ad campaign to pressure two moderate Democrats, Sens. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, into relinquishing their opposition to the bill.
The size of the spending and its narrow focus reflects the reality that Democrats are facing.
Despite Build Back Better being supported by Mr. Biden and the majority of Democrats, the legislation is all but dead because of its inability to pass the 50-50 Senate.
Since the package garnered universal opposition from Republicans, the only hope for its passage was along party lines using budget reconciliation.
The process allows some tax-and-spending measures to avert the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster threshold and pass with a simple majority.
Party unity proved impossible when Mr. Manchin signaled his opposition, citing concerns the bill relied too heavily on budget gimmicks and would exacerbate inflation.
“Despite my best efforts, I cannot explain the sweeping Build Back Better Act in West Virginia and I cannot vote to move forward on this mammoth piece of legislation,” Mr. Manchin said.
Democrats and White House officials have pledged to continue lobbying Mr. Manchin to change his mind. Mr. Manchin says there has been little movement on the topic since he announced his opposition last year.
“There’s not been any formal basically sit-down meetings or things of that sort,” he said.
Given Mr. Manchin’s opposition, Democrats are attempting to chart a new path forward.
Most, including Mr. Biden, say that breaking the package up and passing it piecemeal is the best way forward.
At the moment, Democrats say their focus will likely be on a smaller climate change package premised around a $550 billion tax credit program to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Mr. Manchin has signaled openness to something on climate change, provided it is not punitive to West Virginia’s coal and natural gas industry.
Eager for a win, some progressive Democrats even argue that Mr. Manchin should be allowed to write the climate change package himself so the party can move and claim victory.
“Manchin should have the pen, we should respect that whatever he wants to do will be reasonable and ultimately be historic,” said Rep. Ro Khanna, California Democrat.
Not everyone agrees with the strategy, however.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has warned that a watered-down Build Back Better package will fail to energize the Democratic Party’s progressive base ahead of the midterms.
Read rest at Washington Times
As long as the Dumb-O-Crats spend other peoples money they don,t give a darn
Politically, I might (also) add that a 50/50 Senate and the smallest majority in the House in about 100 years would clearly indicate that NEITHER party can claim ANY TYPE of mandate. The left wing of the Democratic party show’s little appetite for collaboration or compromise. Elements of the Republican party are equally culpable in that same regard. The voters want ACTION on the key issues of their concern and I’d submit a return to CIVILITY and some STATESMANSHIP. Whichever party manages to successfully seize these simple truths will RUN AWAY with this years mid-term elections. Time for a Cool Change…
As a life long moderate independent, I could CARE LESS what the “progressive base” thinks, their wants & wishful desires. This fringe MINORITY within the Democratic party has a far OUTSIZED effect on current legislative initiatives/direction. Given recent polling, it would appear the VAST majority of the citizenry agrees with me. When 70% of those polled suggest the country is headed in the WRONG direction, these fanatics have NO MANDATE to legislate anything!!! With inflation roaring at 40 year highs, the last thing we need at the moment is another humongous injection of federal government spending. One last thing. Instead of WASTING $550 BILLION on green energy like “renewables” & old technology you’ll never be able to SCALE to meet energy transition imperatives, SHIFT your narrow paradigm. If you want to invest taxpayer dollars in R & D, put that money into battery development, modular nuclear & FUSION so we can compete for the next generation of energy technology worldwide. We have already “spotted” the EU & Chinese a substantial advantage, so it is critical to start a significant rally. Quite frankly, the energy transition is a job for scientists, technicians/practitioners & engineers…NOT drama & theater majors. Time for the ADULTS to take charge and get a sensible, well informed debate started on energy & attendant environmental policy…