Biden infrastructure/tax increase megathread

[politics_king]

Underrated aspect that should be getting more attention.

https://twitter.com/johnkartch/status/1377245266697457673

As a proud union member! Ohhhhh yeeeeahhhhh!!!!
Oh yeah
Ohhhhhhhhhh yeaaaahhhhhhh

[politics_king]

Biden is really trying to cement his legacy here and I'm all for it.

[politics_king]

https://news.yahoo.com/manchin-comes-against-biden-infrastructure-162050915.html

Senator Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.) said he would oppose raising the corporate tax rate to 28 percent, a key component of the Biden administration’s infrastructure bill, in a radio interview with West Virginia’s Metro News.

“As the bill exists today, it needs to be changed,” Manchin told host Hoppy Kercheval. The senator added that he could support raising the corporate tax rate to 25 percent, but not to 28 percent as envisioned in the bill, because it would hurt the country’s market competitiveness.

“It’s more than just me, Hoppy,” Manchin said. “There’s six or seven other Democrats who feel very strongly about this. We have to be competitive, and we’re not going to throw caution to the wind.”

Manchin emphasized that the bill would not move forward without his support. With 50 Senate seats and the vice presidency, Democrats need the support of all their senators in order to pass legislation.

“If I don’t vote to get on it, it’s not going anywhere,” Manchin said.

I'm really getting sick and tired of this guy.

[politics_king]

I think what's potentially at stake is finally fixing Obamacare. Apart from some tinkering around the edges legislatively, the law is largely unchanged since its enactment (apart from the Medicaid expansion having been declared optional by the Supreme Court). Typically, major laws like those are amended many times in the immediately succeeding years. That did not happen since Republicans took control of the House several months after the bill became law (and years before many of the provisions became operative). There hasn't been a chance to do this since this is the first Democratic trifecta in a decade.

I do know the American Rescue Plan Act has some parts that improve Obamacare, including increased premium subsidies and incentives for states to expand Medicaid. A new bill could improve Obamacare considerably. I'm like a lot of people on the left and very much supportive of Medicare for All, but that's not realistic right now. There are other things that can be done though. Medicaid could be further expanded. Obamacare as enacted expanded Medicaid to all adults at over 133% federal poverty line (technically 138% because of a 5% deduction). The House bill at the time wanted 150% (presumably 155% in effect). That could be done now, or something even higher. There's also the potential of lowering the Medicare age to 55 or 60, increasing premium subsidies, allowing the federal government to negotiate prescription drug prices, and increasing federal funds for Medicaid.

The public option needs to be put in the bill. It will be extremely popular to voters, the Republicans won't be able to repeal it and it gets you one step closer to M4A.