Senate Democrats just laid out their $3.5 trillion plan to hike taxes on the wealthy & begin

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

fighting climate change - without any Republican votes

Senate Democrats introduced a $3.5 trillion budget blueprint on Monday that would raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans and large corporations in order to fund a massive expansion of the social safety net, fulfilling a key part of President Joe Biden's economic agenda.

The $3.5 trillion spending plan would expand Medicare so it covers dental, vision, and hearing. It would also set up a paid family and medical leave program, tuition-free community college, child allowance, and clean energy provisions to combat climate change.

It would also create a pathway to citizenship for some undocumented immigrants and would lower prescription drug prices. Democrats want to pay for the plan by increasing taxes on the wealthiest Americans and large firms, while avoiding any tax hikes for people earning under $400,000. The bill would be among the largest spending packages ever taken up by Congress.

"At its core, this legislation is about restoring the middle class in the 21st Century and giving more Americans the opportunity to get there," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/senate-democrats-just-laid-out-their-3-5-trillion-plan-to-hike-taxes-on-the-wealthy-and-begin-fighting-climate-change-without-any-republican-votes/ar-AAN755m

Biden’s reconciliation bill would be a very big deal

Democrats are moving ahead on what could be the most consequential piece of domestic policy legislation in decades, and the planned centerpiece of President Joe Biden’s first-term agenda.

This coming megabill doesn’t yet have a name. It hasn’t technically been written. But on Monday, Senate Democrats released their current plan for what to put in it — and, well, it’s a whole lot.

Low-income families would get what’s effectively a “child allowance” — money to help raise kids — for longer, via an expanded child tax credit. Seniors on Medicare would get new dental, vision, and hearing benefits, as well as lower prescription drug prices. The coming bill would create new programs for universal pre-K, subsidized child care, free community college, and paid family leave. Some unauthorized immigrants would be able to get green cards. Then there’s major spending on clean energy, housing affordability, and much more.

It would be “the most consequential piece of legislation passed since the Great Depression,” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said last month. In spending terms, it would be as much as $3.5 trillion — about triple the size of Obamacare, the law that then-vice president Biden famously called “a big fucking deal.”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/biden-s-reconciliation-bill-would-be-a-very-big-deal/ar-AAN74ro

[Johnny2X2X]

1. I almost want this to stay quiet

While progressives are busy crying about Joe Manchin pushing bipartisanship, Joe Biden and the Dems are readying the biggest progressive bill since the New Deal, this bill would transform America.

And yes, Manchin is going to water down a few parts of it, but he's already on board with 95% of this right now. But this is the wish list for progressives that no one ever thought were possible and all at once.

The Infrastructure deal is great, it is needed and does a ton of good for the country. This spending bill does what politicians on both sides have been saying they'd do for generations, it rebuilds our middle class.

The only drawback I see is that the GOP will use this as a rallying cry "spending! Socialism!" that might get their voters out to the polls in 2022.

This is a giant leap for the nation! It has to be done.

[brush]

4. Any GOP rallying cry will fall on deaf ears when people start...

getting all the many benefits from this bill, not to mention all the good jobs from this and the bipartisan infrastructure bill.

The results of the passing of these bills into law could alter national politics for a generation. After FDR's New Deal and LBJ's Great Society, Dems ruled Congress for decades. There will be positive effects from the passing of these bills.

[Johnny2X2X]

5. I think that's what the Dems are banking on

But the Reps are just really good at framing things negatively. ObamaCare was something Reps should have liked, but they framed it and made it into a rallying cry that allowed them to sweep into power in Congress in 2010.

But Biden is the Ace in the hole here, his moderate street cred makes a lot of these attacks fall on deaf ears. And the Infrastructure Bill is timed perfectly to give cover, "Wee, we work together on big things." It's really masterfully planned if they can pull it off.

[GoodRaisin]

6. 3...2...1... (re: spending)

Fox News lying to their audience that this is a big, socialist, tax increase on the middle class. Get ready.

Doesn't matter though. They've already been pushing this lie anyway.

Biden is getting tangible things done that Trump could only lie about.

[mightytighty]

14. Progressives are the ones writing the 3.5T billion

It's the moderates working with the GOP writing the BiPartisan bill.
Biden and the Manchin crowd DONT WANT THE 3.5 T bill, just the bipartisan bill. if the 3.5T bill, it will be because the progressives fought for it.

[Johnny2X2X]

15. That is incredibly wrong or maybe you're just lying

Biden has his hands all over the $3.5 Trillion Bill, he and Bernie practically wrote it together. And Manchin has been briefed every step of the way. It's on the Floor of the Senate right now with amendments being voted on, it will pass tomorrow because the President, Bernie Sanders, and every one of the other 49 Democrats in the Senate support it.

What is it with this garbage of trying to divide the Dems? Pure lies to say Biden doesn't want it, he has championed it. And Manchin has been heavily involved too although I think he'll wring a few things out of it for the environment. And Bernie has championed it too as Biden's and as being "the most important piece of legislation since the Great Depression."

Where do you get you garbage from? This is the Biden's bill, it's supported by Bernie who just gave a great speech introducing it to the Senate which included giving full credit to President Biden for it.

[Eliot Rosewater]

18. Hopefully soon people will "wonder" what post we are talking about, if you know what I mean.

But yes, there is a group on the left, who are not really on the left, who will ALWAYS bash any Democrat who isn't in the progressive caucus and then even some of them will get bashed if not perfectly pure.

This small group was willing to sacrifice the human race for purity in 2016.

[Johnny2X2X]

19. Oh, I see it's an obvious troll now

1 post, yeah, post should be flagged and removed.

I'll say this, Bernie Sanders is all on board with Biden's Budget Bill and once it's passed will be it's most vocal advocate. If they then refuse to listen to Bernie, they're beyond salvaging as Democratic votes.

[George II]

21. Three members, representing the Congressional Progressive Caucus, have already issued....

....an ultimatum to Pelosi and Schumer today:

"We said what we said!"

Link to tweet

[Eliot Rosewater]

23. Yet the LIE about Biden posted remains

[George II]

27. It's also a vague smear of Biden's effectiveness at getting legislation passed AND.....

....how he goes about doing it.

It also takes a shot at Manchin and his (non-existent) "crowd" like that's a bad thing.

[Cha]

20. You're Wrong.. this is Pres Biden's Leadership..

[George II]

22. This is BIDEN'S bill and you're criticizing him as NOT wanting it? C'mon. And there isn't a....

...."Manchin crowd".

Pretty negative attitude toward our Democratic President and a Democratic Senator. Reminder: this is DEMOCRATIC Underground.

[Cha]

25. Yes, TY! it's Pres Biden's Bill.. Nancy Pelosi Knows this TOO!

Link to tweet

The leadership of
@POTUS

POTUS has seized this once-in-a-century opportunity to Build Back Better ...

[George II]

28. Methinks someone's whities are a mite too tighty.

[sheshe2]

29. You read my thoughts.

[Cha]

32. No Doubt!

[Cha]

35. Vid.. Biden Delivers.. Humiliates trump!

MeidasTouch!

[George II]

36. Damn the MeidasTouch guys (they're brothers) are good! I love that last view of Biden grinning!!!!

[Cha]

37. I know.. the 3 brothers are Political Creative

Geniuses! 'Cause they know just how to Weave the Historical Facts together using their subjects' OWN WORDS!

[Hekate]

44. In 7 months! You know, one of the many Debby Downers posting this morning was griping...

… that this bill had taken 8 months, and they said it like it was a bad thing and a horrible failure. JHC, what is wrong with some people?

[Cha]

45. omg.. I'm glad I didn't see that! Amazing

that Sen Schumer & Pres Biden got those Rs to support it!

You know trump is Seething.. added Bonus!

[Cha]

26. Nancy Pelosi's Statement on Pres Biden's Leadership...

Link to tweet

The leadership of
@POTUS

POTUS has seized this once-in-a-century opportunity to Build Back Better ...

[sheshe2]

31. Democrats wrote that bill.

We are a huge tent and when we come together, we get things done.

Biden and the Manchin crowd DONT WANT THE 3.5 T bill, just the bipartisan , it will be because the progressives fought for it.

What are you going on about? Bernie:
Chairman | US Senate Committee On The Budgethttps://www.budget.senate.gov › chairman › newsroom
Bernie Sanders. All Press. Press. 08.09.21. NEWS: Senate Budget Chairman Sanders and Majority Leader Schumer Introduce Historic Budget Resolution. 05.28.21.

As chairman of the Budget committee helped write that bill with Biden. Are you calling Bernie a moderate?

Welcome to DU.....................

[Cha]

34. Vid.. Pres Biden Delivers.. Most Voters Know this.

[George II]

38. Love that video, especially the last Biden GRIN!

[Cha]

39. You know how Happy Pres Biden is that he Got

this For America and her People!

81 Million People knew he would Deliver.. I'm still shocked the Dems got bi-partisan support!

"Humiliating" trump is and Added Bonus!

[Budi]

41. Ya I'm pretty sure while Joe & his Democrats were knee deep & late night writing a 3.5 tr policy....

...3.5 tr policy pkg your friends were busy posing for social media selfies.

They were barely part of the Democrat's most historic policy since The New Deal..
Same goes for the eviction bill they claimed as their own when it was Maxine Waters, who saw to the policy being written, completed & presented the final week of JULY.

This 3.5 tr is President Biden's BFD along with Democratic leaders Schumer & Pelosi.

Someone lied to you about the facts of WHO did the hard part.

Link to tweet

[Budi]

42. They didn't write the 3.5tr bill. No one's bying that either.

Link to tweet

[lapucelle]

47. It's not unusual to wake up hungry, even after a short nap.

[Budi]

2. "this legislation is about restoring the middle class in the 21st Century" THIS is Joe Biden 💙

Last edited Mon Aug 9, 2021, 04:37 PM - Edit history (1)

At its core, this legislation is about restoring the middle class in the 21st Century and giving more Americans the opportunity to get there," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement.


On the horseshoe spectrum, The Middle Class, positioned in the Center, was the strength & the engine that carried the best of the nation.

The wealth ends of that spectrum were beneficiaries.

The Center has always been the balance, the driver of our Democracy.

Biden has always gotten this part right.

[crickets]

7. +1

[FakeNoose]

3. Here we go! Thank you Democrats

[monkeyman1]

8. HERE WE GO & THERE OFF !

[jalan48]

9. So what can stop it?

[jaxexpat]

10. A well orchestrated televised insurrection....

May put a damper on progressiveness. Especially if the rw media can throw law and order into the confusion.

[Amishman]

12. only ourselves

Manchin and a few others are probably going to demand some scaling back in some areas, and adjustments in how it is paid for in others. Bernie and a few others are going to resist watering it down.

Both wings of the party are going to need to swallow their pride and work together to get something that works. Perfect is the enemy of Good.

[jalan48]

13. The ole, "The devil is in the details". With no new taxes it's going to be hard to get $3.5 trillion

from more conservative Dems like Manchin and Tester.

[Johnny2X2X]

16. It's already on the floor taking amendments from both sides

Manchin and Tester have already greed to the tax hikes, it's just a matter of working out the details. The only sticking point might be Manchin trying to wring out some of the environmental stuff to protect WV's fossil fuel industry/jobs.

[jalan48]

17. Great! Glad to hear the news about Manchin and Tester on the tax increases.

[seta1950]

11. Yes please

Don’t jinx it please

[Hekate]

24. I loved what Joe said to the millionaires: "Don't worry, you'll still have your 3 houses...

…and whatever else you need.”

Love that guy.

[George II]

30. Bazinga! A well directed comment, I'm sure.

[sheshe2]

33. Ouch.

[Cha]

40. Lol! Thank you for that, Hekate!

[Budi]

43. 💙 Pic... President Joe Biden & VP Harris celebrate the Vote

Link to tweet

[Skittles]

46. BRING IT ON

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

48. Manchin and Sinema will work to take many of the nice things out of the bill,

until their super wealthy, (snort), *friends* are satisfied, before they permit the bill to become law.

[Johnny2X2X]

49. They already voted yes on it

Last edited Wed Aug 11, 2021, 08:30 AM - Edit history (1)

There’s still more negotiating to take place, but they both already voted for the $3.5 Trillion bill after both offering amendments to it that were voted on.

[Celerity]

51. The final bill absolutely can be slashed from what it is now, they only passed the budget

resolution yesterday, NOT the final bill. The Senate committees have not even written the legislation yet (they have until September 15th as a goal to finish that).

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/11/senate-passes-3point5-trillion-budget-resolution-after-infrastructure-bill.html

[Johnny2X2X]

53. Yes, there will be more negotiations

But last night was the big hurdle to overcome. The media loves a barn burner and will play it up like this hangs in the balance every moment, but it doesn't, both Sinema and Manchin agreed to the framework for this massive bill and it's going to pass.

And make no mistake, they support almost everything in it. Manchin will strip out some of the environmental stuff, and Sinema will ask for some token reduction, but this is becoming law. The key provisions in it will remain intact.

[Celerity]

57. The big hurdle is final passage, the rest is more or less window dressing. Yes, in theory even the

budget resolution could have been stopped, but both Manchin and Sinema both said days (weeks?) ago they would not block that. They also said they would not support the full package. That is where the friction will come into play, in both chambers, as if the final senate version goes too far in the slashing, Pelosi may well have a rebellion on her hands form the 94 person-strong (biggest single group in the Dem House caucus) Progressive Caucus. On the other hand, IF somehow the Senate goes full bore and passes everything the progs want (ie Manchin and Sinema, etc all cave in) then she may well have issues with the Blue Dogs and the Problem Solvers group in the House. It is a balancing act.

Hopefully the paring down that Sinema and Manchin (and perhaps others) will demand is not big enough to make the House progs go bonkers.

[Johnny2X2X]

58. This bill is so progressive there's n way the progressives turn down whatever version is

They aren't going to go back to their voters and tell them they turned down Dental and vision for them because they didn't like some other part of the bill. They aren't going to go back to their voters and explain that the tax credit they are getting monthly now for their children is going away because they didn't like Manchin's stripping of some environmental standard out of it.

The House will not be the problem. Manchin and Sinema will demand their pound of flesh, but there's too much for their voters back home in this for them not to ultimately pass it. The pros are in charge, Biden won't let this fail, Schumer and Pelosi know exactly what they're doing.

[Celerity]

59. I very much hope this is the case nt

[George II]

50. I wish people would stop bashing Manchin and Sinema - THEY VOTED FOR IT, and Manchin...

....was on the floor about 10 or 11 vehemently arguing against some of the republican amendments that would have watered down the bill.

If passed in the House the bill will become law without "their super wealthy (snort) *friends* being satisfied".

You're making frivolous claims and bashing them for no reason.!

[Johnny2X2X]

52. +1000

Thank You. Manchin and Sinema voted yes, they could have stopped it last night. And they voted to protect it from Republicans and their "super wealthy friends" on a number of BS amendments Republicans put forth to protect the rich and powerful.

Now there is still work to do, but despite what the media will say over the next several weeks, last night was the biggest hurdle.

[Celerity]

56. That's incorrect in regards to the $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill, which is the subject of the OP

The Senate only voted for a budget resolution (rough framework) for the $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill, the actual legislation has not even been written by the Senate Committees yet, Schumer gave the committees until September 15th to draft the actual legislation.

The final Senate reconciliation bill is far from passed, and can be dramatically pared down still.

If passed in the House the bill will become law without "their super wealthy (snort) *friends* being satisfied".

This is only correct for the bi-partisan $1.2 bill bill, passed in the Senate under regular order, but the poster you are lambasting is talking about the subject of this OP, the $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill. That bill has not even been written in its final form yet.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

54. Manchin voted for a Republican amendment to the bill to keep Hyde, and once again poor people

are the pawns who lose out in these games.

[lapucelle]

63. All concern about what extreme right wingers at Just the News might think of Democrats

is duly noted.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________



____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[Celerity]

64. erm, I used that to show what the RWers think of it, I CLEARLY stated that in my post, and that

in no way negates the simple fact that if Manchin had not voted with the Rethugs, the Cotton amendment would have failed.

I said

the RWers are crowing about it

Senate passed Cotton amendment to ban federal dollars from funding Critical Race Theory in schools

here are other sources


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/fracking-amendment-spotlights-democratic-divide-215806635.html




https://www.politico.com/news/2021/08/10/senate-vote-a-rama-503427

[lapucelle]

66. Erm, as stated, all concern about what extreme right wingers think of Democrats is duly noted.

Headline of the Politico story link in your post:

Senate adopts budget that paves way for $3.5T spending plan

The chamber adopted on party lines a 92-page framework for the package of climate and social initiatives Democrats hope to enact this fall.

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/08/10/senate-vote-a-rama-503427

Pasting in paragraph 15 of a story about the adoption of the budget in a very large font doesn't make it any more important than a detail noted in a long story about the budget passing. The Politico story includes information (paragraphs 15-23) about all the votes that were taken over night.

Additionally, there is no "right wing crowing" in the Politico story as there is in the Just the News link. I had never been to that site before. What a sewer.

[Celerity]

67. I never claimed that there was RW crowing in either the Yahoo or the Politico articles, you

are now falsely trying to put words in my mouth via conflation of 2 separate posts.

Additionally, there is no "right wing crowing" in the Politico story as there is in the Just the News link.

The RW crowing remark was from the original post, and was in regards to the other site that I simply used as an illustrative example (and I clearly stated that, as shown above)

I posted the Yahoo and Politico excerpts (in a separate post that made zero mention of RW crowing) to show that other sources confirmed that Manchin DID provide the decisive vote on the Cotton amendment.

You are trying to muddy the waters via semantic pettifogging to dilute and distract from the simple fact that Manchin's vote was the decisive one that passed the Cotton amendment, be it non-binding or not.

The entire $3.5 trillion budget resolution itself is non-binding.

It is a concurrent resolution, which is non-binding and is not eligible to become law. The Senate committees have not even written the parts of the actual final bill. Schumer was just now on telly saying he wanted the committee work done by September 15th.

Concurrent resolution

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concurrent_resolution

A concurrent resolution is a resolution (a legislative measure) adopted by both houses of a bicameral legislature that lacks the force of law (is non-binding) and does not require the approval of the chief executive (president).


Budget resolution

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_budget_process

The budget resolution is in the form of a concurrent resolution passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate but is not presented to the President and does not have the force of law. It sets out the congressional budget. The budget resolution establishes various budget totals, allocations, entitlements, and may include reconciliation instructions to designated House or Senate committees.


https://www.democrats.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/MEMORANDUM%20for%20Democratic%20Senators%20-%20FY2022%20Budget%20Resolution.pdf

[lapucelle]

76. Was it in the deleted post?

Maybe that was the one that with the link to an extremist website and the concern about the possibility of right wingers crowing.

There is no semantic pettifogging on my part. Nor is there any attempt at gaslighting.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

55. It also now includes renewing the Hyde amendment, thanks to Joe Manchin.

[George II]

60. It's a non-binding amendment.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

61. I know. They're indicators of what's expendable when the hard work begins on this package. For at

least one Democrat, that includes marginalized people who want abortions.

[lapucelle]

65. Reauthorization of the Hyde Amendment has occurred every year for 40 years.

The key to minimizing its impact is flipping state houses blue. Moreover, because this is a non-binding amendment, the issue is still unresolved. Joe Manchin signaling that he supports Hyde is a nod to his specific constituents.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Since it was first enacted over 40 years ago, the [Hyde] amendment has been sponsored and supported by legislators who oppose abortion and, in particular, object to the federal government’s use of taxpayer money for abortion services. The policy is not a permanent law, but rather has been attached as a temporary “rider” to the Congressional appropriations bill for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and has been renewed annually by Congress.

snip=============================================================================================-

Over the years, language similar to that in the Hyde Amendment has been incorporated into a range of other federal programs that provide or pay for health services to women including: the military’s TRICARE program, federal prisons, the Peace Corps, and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) also included a provision that applied similar abortion coverage limitations to plans that are sold through the Marketplace for women who receive federal income-based subsidies to purchase private health insurance.

snip=============================================================================================

Because Medicaid is jointly funded by the federal and state governments, states can choose to pay for abortions under Medicaid in other instances, but must use their own revenues, and not federal funds, to cover the service.

Currently, 16 states have a policy directing the use of their own funds to pay for abortions for low-income women insured by Medicaid beyond the Hyde limitations, nine of which provide coverage as the result of a court order.

https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/issue-brief/the-hyde-amendment-and-coverage-for-abortion-services/

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[WhiskeyGrinder]

68. I know. It is a really handy bargaining chip for both sides -- as marginalized people often are.

[lapucelle]

71. What makes it a "bargaining chip"? Who's doing the bargaining? N/T

[WhiskeyGrinder]

72. It's a bargaining chip because it lets Republicans score points by ensuring federal funds don't pay

for abortion care, and Democrats go along with it to get things passed rather than stand up for people who need that kind of coverage.

[lapucelle]

74. Joe Manchin didn't go along with this in order to get something passed.

The term "bargaining chip" implies a quid pro quo. How is this a bargaining chip? Who did the bargaining? What exactly was the bargain?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

75. He did it to signal that down the road, including Hyde in a spending bill he's said he

doesn't like could be a sweetener.

[lapucelle]

79. A possible signal concerning a hypothetical bill that might be introduced at some time in the future

in which Democrats would be forced to include the Hyde Amendment as a sweetener to Joe Manchin.

Yet Manchin played no such bargaining chip yesterday when he voted "yes" to the Democratic budget resolution without the Hyde language in it, and instead waited for the amendment/non binding resolution as a nod to his constituents on what is now a moot point.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

80. yeah why do people do anything it's a mystery

[lapucelle]

77. It's a non-binding resolution. It is not going to ensure anything about federal funds. N/T

Last edited Wed Aug 11, 2021, 04:41 PM - Edit history (1)

[WhiskeyGrinder]

78. I mean we can keep saying this back and forth but I think I've made my point clear to anyone

who's still following along. Hyde is a bargaining chip and has been for decades. This non-binding vote indicates that Manchin is willing to continue using its inclusion or exclusion as a bargaining chip as this massive bill moves along.

[Celerity]

69. the entire budget resolution (the basic framework that was just passed) is non-binding

It is a concurrent resolution, which is non-binding and is not eligible to become law. The Senate committees have not even written the parts of the actual final bill. Schumer was just now on telly saying he wanted the committee work done by September 15th.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

70. I know. If the entire resolution is nonbinding, it's poing is indicating where people want to go.

I'm just being a dick about Hyde not being dead until it's dead. We'll see where we are in October.

[AZProgressive]

73. I agree with Bernie

And agree it would be a big deal.

K&R