Topline
The Democrats' months-long negotiations over President Joe Bidens signature social-spending package are expected to end this week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Sunday. She also indicated that the House will likely pass a broad infrastructure bill, which some Democrats had blocked until a deal was reached on the spending bill.
Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker (D-Calif.), speaks at her weekly press conference held at the U.S. Capitol... [+] Building on Oct 21 in Washington DC. Getty Images
The Key Facts
Jake Tapper, CNN anchor, asked Pelosi if Congress would agree to the spending bill. The Build Back Better plan is also known as the infrastructure bill. Pelosi stated that the key sticking points include climate change, funding for Medicare and Medicaid, and a package of care provisions such as paid family leave, universal preschool, and elder care. Pelosi stressed that the House Speaker must pass the infrastructure bill before October 31. That is when the Highway Trust Fund Authorization, which funds federal transportation infrastructure, expires. Although moderate Manchin has rejected Biden's climate change plan in the bill, Pelosi stated that she expects the final bill to be passed by October 31. That is the day the Highway Trust Fund Authorization, which funds federal transportation infrastructure, expires.
Important Quote
Pelosi described negotiations over the bill in lamb eat lamb terms, and said it was an example of "If everything is good, what do I cut?"
What to Watch
Biden will be traveling to Europe this week. He will first travel to Rome for the G-20 summit, then to Glasgow to attend the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (or COP26), on November 1. Democratic leaders are pushing for completion of the infrastructure and spending bills before Biden leaves for Europe.
Important Background
Biden's Build Back Better plan was presented as a key centerpiece of his presidency. However, negotiations have been ongoing for months over the actual form of the legislation. The main stumbling blocks in the Democratic plan have been Sen. Kyrsten Silena (D. Arizona) and Senator Kyrsten Manchin. While the initial proposal was priced at $3.5 trillion, Manchin said that he would not support anything more than $1.5 trillion. This forced Democrats to reduce aspects of the plan such as nixing community college free of charge and reducing the length and duration of paid family leaves. Sinema also opposes plans to increase the corporate tax rate and taxes on the rich, which Democrats had hoped would be used to pay for the bill. However, Pelosi stated Sunday that Democrats could still fund the spending plan with no tax hikes, and that they have a variety of options. Although the Senate passed the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill in August as an effective way to gain leverage for the spending plan in August, progressives in the House blocked its passage. They said they would not vote for it if it was up for a vote prior to a deal on the Build Back Better bill.
Continue reading
Biden Announces the Closing of Tuition-Free Community College
Biden will host Manchin in Delaware at a critical juncture (Politico).
What is in the Bidens Build Back Better bill actually? How would it impact you? (The Guardian).
