Democrats Nearing Agreement On Build Back Better?

 

Are we approaching a deal on the Build Back Better (the "human infrastructure reconciliation bill")?

Scaling down his “build back better” plans, President Joe Biden on Tuesday described a more limited vision to Democratic lawmakers of a $2 trillion government-overhaul package with at least $500 billion to tackle climate change and money for middle-class priorities — child tax credits, paid family leave, health care and free pre-kindergarten.

And he expects negotiations to wrap up as soon as this week.

The president met privately into the evening with nearly 20 centrist and progressive lawmakers in separate groups as Democrats appeared ready to abandon what had been a loftier $3.5 trillion package for a smaller, more workable proposal that can unite the party and win passage in the closely divided Congress.

Likely to be eliminated or seriously shaved back: plans for tuition-free community colleges, a path to legal status for immigrants who are in the U.S. without documentation, and a specific clean energy plan that was the centerpiece of Biden’s strategy for fighting climate change.

The details were shared by those familiar with the conversation and granted anonymity to discuss the private meetings.

Biden felt “more confident” after the day of meetings, said press secretary Jen Psaki. “There was broad agreement that there is urgency in moving forward over the next several days and that the window for finalizing a package is closing,” she said.

On the crucial clean energy plan, 

... Biden focused in his Tuesday meetings on providing at least $500 billion in tax credits, grants and loans to fight climate change, much of it likely coming from a package compiled by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., the chairman of the the Finance Committee. Those include the tax breaks for energy producers that reach emission-reduction goals.

That clean energy approach could better align with Manchin’s stated goal of keeping a “fuel neutral” approach to federal policy that does not favor renewable energy sources over coal and natural gas that are dominant in his state.

Are we joyous?  Not exactly.  Nor do we expect many Democrats and others who wanted the robust $3.5 trillion package to pass to be happy.  But, if this does pass at roughly the $2 trillion level it will be a huge game- changer for this country.  It would combine with the $1.5 trillion infrastructure bill already passed in the Senate, as well as the $2 trillion American Rescue Plan that Democrats passed in the Spring, which provided families and businesses with financial assistance to help them recover from the economy's pandemic downturn.

Look, Democrats need to focus on what can be achieved in a House with a slim majority and a Senate with two corporate Dems holding progressive legislation hostage.  To flog a cliché, don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.  Focus on what will be funded in a slimmed- down, compromised BBB, including but not limited to:

-- extending the $300 monthly child tax credit for another year;

-- a trimmed down paid family leave program;

-- funding for health care programs, including  new money for home- and community-based health care services;

-- an expansion of Medicare to include dental, hearing and vision benefits;

-- child care subsidies.

Whether or not this passes (and we still believe it will), Democrats have a mission to hold the House in 2020 and add two more seats in the Senate to break the stranglehold of Sens. Manchin and Sinema.  They can then go back and pass the positive, progressive legislation on climate change and social services that's being cut now.