President Joe Biden touted a framework for a “historic,” $1.85 trillion social spending program to the American people late Thursday morning, saying it would “fundamentally change the lives of millions of people.” However, it’s unclear if Biden has convinced enough Democrats to support two bills that embody his Build Back Better Agenda.
“After months of tough and thoughtful negotiations I think we have an historic — I know we have an historic economic framework. It’s a framework that will create millions of jobs, grow the economy, invest in our nation and our people, turn the climate crisis into an opportunity, put us on a path not only to compete but to win the economic competition for the 21st century against China and every other major country in the world,” Biden said.
The president noted that his economic agenda would be fully paid for by tax increases on wealthy companies and individuals. Counterintuitively, he said the new spending would reduce the deficit and help ease inflationary pressure.
Biden acknowledged that “nobody got everything they wanted, including me” but added, “I’ve long said compromise and consensus are the only way to get big things done in a democracy, important things done for country. I know it’s hard. I know how deeply people feel about the things they fight for. But this framework includes historic investments in our nation and in our people.”
The New York Times highlights the salient features of Biden’s proposed framework, including:
- $555 billion to fight climate change, largely through tax incentives for low-emission sources of energy.
- $400 billion to provide universal prekindergarten to 3- and 4-year-olds, and to significantly reduce health care costs for working families earning up to $300,000 a year.
- $165 billion to reduce health care premiums for people who are covered through the Affordable Care Act, to provide insurance for an additional four million people through Medicaid and to offer hearing coverage through Medicare.
A White House press release also describes a two year extension of the Child Tax Credit and investments in affordable housing, higher education, job training, and home care for seniors.
Progressive Democrats think the legislation doesn’t go far enough. But Democratic centrists, most notably Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Sen. Kyrsten Sinemaa of Arizona, have forced the removal of several liberal priorities, including paid family leave and free community college.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, the powerful independent from Vermont, said Biden’s framework would be the “most consequential bill since the 1960s,” but he added that he wants to see it “improved.”
In short, there’s still uncertainty about the fate of both the social spending bill and a separate $1.2 trillion infrastructure deal. Progressives have said they won’t approve the infrastructure funding until they’re satisfied with Manchin’s and Sinema’s commitment to the bigger package.
In a statement, Sinema expressed mild approval of the framework, saying “I look forward to getting this done.” Manchin told reporters that he was negotiating in “good faith” and added “this is all in the hands of the House now,” which seemed to indicate that he wants the lower chamber to pass the infrastructure bill before he solidifies his support on social spending.
Earlier on Thursday, Biden appeared on Capitol Hill in an attempt to bring his party together.
“I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that the House and Senate majorities and my presidency will be determined by what happens in the next week,” Biden told Democrats, according to POLITICO.
Biden is headed to Europe later in the day Thursday for consequential meetings with the pope in Rome and world leaders in Glasgow, where the UN is holding a climate change summit.
POLITICO reports:
Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) summarized Biden’s remarks [on Capitol Hill] in a quip: “Translation: I’m going to Rome. I want to get off that plane, and disprove Putin and Xi, who say democracies can’t get anything done. I’d like to have something at hand to disprove that. Translation, pass the infrastructure bill.”
According to Bloomberg, Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants to bring the infrastructure bill up for a vote on Thursday.
“I’m still gonna be a ‘hell no’ [on infrastructure] unless I see both move,” Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), said after Biden’s Capitol Hill appearance.