Democratic infighting threatens Biden’s big agenda by Susan Ferrechio, Chief Congressional Correspondent for Washington Examiner
Democrats planned to pass a massive social spending bill along with a major infrastructure package, government funding, and a debt ceiling increase — all by the end of September.
But the plan is crumbling due to internal differences over spending, taxes, and big policy changes lawmakers hoped to include in the legislation.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday offered assurances that Democrats are on target to achieve their primary goal of passing President Joe Biden’s dual infrastructure and social welfare spending bill.
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“Democrats continue to make good progress towards sending our Build Back Better agenda into law,” the New York Democrat said on the Senate floor.
But in reality, Democrats have no apparent path to pass both a $3.5 trillion social welfare spending bill and a $1.2 trillion hard infrastructure measure, despite a self-imposed Sept. 27 deadline.
In addition, the party triggered a fiscal standoff with Republicans on Monday by announcing a must-pass government spending bill will be linked to a debt ceiling increase despite a warning from the GOP they’ll block legislation that pairs the two measures.
Most of the Democratic Party’s problems stem from differences among party lawmakers regarding spending and taxes.
Centrist Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona oppose the $3.5 trillion cost of the social welfare package, which would pay for free universal preschool, free community college, paid family and medical leave, money for elder care, expanded Medicare benefits, extended child tax credits, and more.
Manchin has repeatedly called for slowing down consideration of the $3.5 trillion package, which other party lawmakers fear will hurt the chances of ever passing it.
Manchin is also opposed to raising corporate tax rates above 25%, which is below the 26.5% rate his party proposed to offset the cost of the social welfare bill.
