Paul Begala: Progressives can't take "yes" for an answer....

[brooklynite]

(on "Hacks on Tap" podcast)

The way to deal with the moderate "rebellion" is to hold an immediate vote on the Senate-passed Infrastructure Bill as is (bigger than any infrastructure goal any other Democratic President has proposed), notch a win for the Democratic Party (which they'll need for the 2020 midterms, and THEN start arguing about additional spending; not risk a sure thing while demanding something better.

[Tomconroy]

1. I think I agree with that. Why not just take a win?

[drray23]

4. because if we pass that smaller bill first

we won't have 50 votes on the reconciliation bill. Moderate dems will use it as an excuse to say that the bipartisan bill was enough and that we don't need to get rid of filibuster because we just passed that bill the regular way.

[JohnSJ]

2. I suspect they think they can use the bipartisan bill as a negotiating tool for to get more

things into the reconciliation bill.

In other words if they pass the bipartisan bill, I think they believe they will lose leverage in the 3.5 trillion reconciliation.

In the end I fully expect a compromise to get both bills passed by the Democrats

[brooklynite]

5. If they pass the Senate bill as is, it goes directly to President Biden immediately.

If they pass a "compromise" bill, it goes back to the Senate.

[JohnSJ]

7. I know, I am just speculating on their strategy, I am not saying I agree with it

I personally think they should pass the bipartisan bill now, then fight out the reconciliation, but it doesn’t look that will happen

The worst thing is if the clock runs out and nothing happens

That would be a disaster

The ball is effectively in the progressive caucus court right now

[Johnny2X2X]

3. Nancy's got this

The media just looks to create controversy that isn't there.

[Fiendish Thingy]

10. The media is responding to a public letter from 9 Dem "moderate" reps.

These “moderates” are refusing to allow the reconciliation process to move forward in the house, allowing the reconciliation bill to be drafted with amendments, until the house passes the bipartisan bill already passed by the senate.

[dsc]

6. He is wrong on this.

Sinema is incapable of being dealt with since she has no discernable policy positions. If they pass this bill we will get not one single, solitary, cent more. Liberals and POC of color were completely, utterly and totally shut out of this process and the bill shows that. And it was made clear, by no less than Biden himself, that this bill wouldn't be passed alone. Promises have meaning.

[David__77]

8. Pelosi spoke on this.

"Let me be really clear on this: We will not take up a bill in the House until the Senate passes the bipartisan bill and a reconciliation bill. If there is no bipartisan bill, then we'll just go when the Senate passes a reconciliation bill.”

That does, indeed, seem really clear. It doesn’t address the sequence of the votes, it does address that the senate must pass the budget first.

[Fiendish Thingy]

9. Nope. If bipartisan bill passes first, Manchin and Sinema will kill or neuter reconciliation bill

Remember, this is BIDEN’s Big agenda, not AOC’s. The ONLY leverage to guarantee Manchin and Sinema vote for the final reconciliation package is to hold their precious bipartisan bill hostage.

So, the nine “moderates” who think they are clever need to prepare to lose their committee assignments and hang out with MTG in the halls, as well as face primaries from Dems who actually support Biden’s big agenda.

It baffles me that these nine reps think fixing potholes and bridges alone is better for their re-election chances, rather than all those repairs, PLUS the child tax credit, free pre-K, free community college, rural broadband, and good paying jobs that help ensure a healthy planet for our kids and grandkids.