What inflation?
Senate Democrats unveiled a $3.5 trillion “infrastructure” bill that they will try to pass through “reconciliation” with ZERO Republican votes needed.
This bill is in addition to the $1 trillion ‘bipartisan’ infrastructure, bill bringing the total spending to approximately $4.5 trillion.
The Democrats can’t get rid of the filibuster so they are using reconciliation for the second time this year to force their agenda onto the American people.
“We are very proud of this plan. We know we have a long road to go. We’re going to get this done for the sake of making average Americans’ lives a whole lot better,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said.
The bill will include Medicare expansion, funding for child care and money to battle climate change.
CBS News reported:
Democratic senators announced on Tuesday evening that they reached a deal on a $3.5 trillion infrastructure bill that they will attempt to pass through reconciliation, a process that will allow the legislation to be approved without any Republican votes. The bill is expected to include President Biden’s “human” infrastructure priorities not covered by a bipartisan proposal, such as child care, health care, education and additional climate change-related provisions.
Mr. Biden will meet with Democrats at their luncheon on Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced after the meeting between Democrats on the Senate Budget Committee on Tuesday. Schumer also said that the bill will include an expansion of Medicare benefits to cover dental and vision, a priority for Budget Committee Chair Bernie Sanders.
As this larger bill is unlikely to garner any Republican votes, it must receive support from all 50 Democrats, meaning that it will need support from both ideological ends of the party. Senators must first craft a budget resolution, which will lay out instructions for passing the bill through reconciliation.
Lawmakers are also working on a $1 trillion ‘bipartisan’ infrastructure package that takes care of other priorities for Biden such as electric vehicle charging stations.
Schumer said he would like to bring the $1 trillion bipartisan deal to the senate floor next week shortly before August recess.