The president's plan is imperfect, but a big step forward for the country

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

The framework that President Biden presented to Congress on Thursday represents the core of his domestic agenda. It is a wide-ranging social spending and climate proposal designed to be a down payment on big structural changes that would make the United States fairer and more environmentally responsible.

Though the package, as it stands, is far from perfect, it represents a significant step toward both of those goals, while being reasonably fiscally responsible. As recently as a few days ago, such an outcome looked very much in doubt.

It is not as large or ambitious as most Democratic lawmakers wanted. Important policies, particularly on climate, have been badly compromised. But if Democratic lawmakers keep its core elements intact in the coming days of dealmaking, the measure will do substantial good.

It would fund for six years universal prekindergarten. It would spend half a trillion dollars over 10 years on climate change programs, including expanded green energy subsidies and hardening infrastructure against more violent climatic conditions. It would offer subsidized health-care coverage through 2025 to millions of low-income Americans stuck in the Medicaid “coverage gap,” who currently lack a plausible path to getting insurance. It would also shore up the Affordable Care Act, on which millions of other Americans depend for coverage.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/10/28/presidents-plan-is-imperfect-big-step-forward-country/

[Eyeball_Kid]

1. It was never going to be 3.5T.

The Dems did a fairly good job of selling an opening negotiating position. So they get a reduced package, but they can say that they delivered, and can promise to do more with a larger group of Democrats in Congress-- like diminishing Manchin and Sinema's importance by gaining two to four Senate seats in 2022.

[catchnrelease]

2. This is what I'm hoping for

That BBB as it is will pass and Democrats can pick up enough seats to make Manchin and Sinema's votes less critical. But the Dems must make it really clear that if people want to get some of the things that had to be jettisoned from the original package, they have to turn out and vote to get more seats in the Senate and hold or add in the House. I hope what does pass now will give people a taste of what Biden etc want to do for the populace and then they will turn out big time.

[Silver Gaia]

3. Yep. Absolutely.

I agree with all you said.

[Irish_Dem]

4. My theory is that Biden deliberately started with a high price tag and overloaded the bill.

So that when the Congress sliced and diced it, he would end up with the bill he thought he could get from the beginning.

[RussBLib]

5. would seem to be a smart strategy

start with a sky-high figure, then whittle it down to appease the naysayers.

Compromise.

[Irish_Dem]

6. He knows the drill. And he saw what happened to Obama negotiations.