What's in, and what's out, as Democrats reshape Biden bill

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

WASHINGTON (AP) — After months of talks, Democrats are edging closer to an agreement on what programs and policies to include in President Joe Biden's massive plan to expand health and safety net programs and combat global warming.

The plan seems likely to include universal preschool, paid family leave and the continuation of a child tax credit that was increased earlier this year and applied to more families. Democrats are scaling back some investments or shortening the timeframe for when those programs would be up and running to fit within an approximately $2 trillion budget over 10 years, rather than the $3.5 trillion budget plan originally envisioned.

Still, Democrats are hoping the programs will prove so popular that future Congresses will continue to fund them in the years ahead. It seems unlikely that any Republican will support the measure.

Negotiations are fluid and the package is very much in flux. It also won't be possible to fully assess the details until legislative text is released. But here's where the bill stands so far, according to lawmakers and aides:

-more-

https://www.yahoo.com/news/whats-whats-democrats-reshape-biden-041352930.html

[Hortensis]

1. Lots of good stuff at the link. With "free" community college

likely pushed back, Biden is looking to expand Pell grants for needs-based tuition. Besides college, they can be used to obtain trade school skills that mean livable incomes for many. These days some skilled jobs pay better than some requiring four-year degrees.

“I promise you — I guarantee you — we’re going to get free community college in the next several years and across the board.” For Biden, it represents yet another setback to a plan he has been pushing for years. He backed a proposal for free community college in 2015 under the Obama administration, made it a key issue in his 2020 presidential campaign and has remained a staunch champion of the idea along with his wife, Jill, who teaches English at a community college.

[elleng]

2. Negotiations are fluid and the package is very much in flux.