Biden infrastructure/tax increase megathread

[WD]

Reaganomics is being massacred.

And only 40 years too late.

[WD]

This is a good bill.
We do need to improve our infrastructure and now is the right time especially coming out of Covid.

Afterwards, maybe we should be a bit more careful with our spending and see how this plus the stimulus plays out. We could focus on HR1 in the meantime.

This is not a good bill. The breakdown should be something like this:

Power grid ($300B)
Rural broadband ($100B)
High Speed Rail ($300B)
Mass Transit Rail ext/new ($400B)
Roads ($100B)
Bridges ($150B)
Hospitals ($50B)
Schools ($100B)
Airports ($200B)
Housing ($200B)
Manufacturing ($300B)
Energy/Climate: ($200B)
Waterways ($100B)

That’s nice, but the breakdown in Biden’s bill is fine as is.

[WD]

This is a good bill.
We do need to improve our infrastructure and now is the right time especially coming out of Covid.

Afterwards, maybe we should be a bit more careful with our spending and see how this plus the stimulus plays out. We could focus on HR1 in the meantime.

This is not a good bill. The breakdown should be something like this:

Power grid ($300B)
Rural broadband ($100B)
High Speed Rail ($300B)
Mass Transit Rail ext/new ($400B)
Roads ($100B)
Bridges ($150B)
Hospitals ($50B)
Schools ($100B)
Airports ($200B)
Housing ($200B)
Manufacturing ($300B)
Energy/Climate: ($200B)
Waterways ($100B)

That’s nice, but the breakdown in Biden’s bill is fine as is.

I don't think it's wrong to challenge the breakdown and expect something better. I support this bill either way, but in general, I agree with MillenialMAModerate that some of the spending is a bit off. Hopefully it's gonna be revised.

Fair enough. I do think more money for things like Airports and HSR would be good. Although I disagree with the idea that this is “not a good bill”.

[WD]

Hope suburban NYC Democrats hold this hostage over SALT.

While I wouldn't put it as AGA did, pro SALT suburban voters are at least partly responsible for the Democratic House majority and not putting it in this bill is a betrayal to those voters and frankly it's disrespectful to them too, and indicates that their concerns don't really matter.

Correct, the concerns of the UMC and the wealthy really shouldn’t matter.

[WD]

Hope suburban NYC Democrats hold this hostage over SALT.

While I wouldn't put it as AGA did, pro SALT suburban voters are at least partly responsible for the Democratic House majority and not putting it in this bill is a betrayal to those voters and frankly it's disrespectful to them too, and indicates that their concerns don't really matter.

Correct, the concerns of the UMC and the wealthy really shouldn’t matter.

I mean pro-SALT districts (CA-45, CA-49, NJ-07, NJ-11, NJ-05, VA-10, etc.) definitely are enough seats to be the balance of the House majority.

Also: while I think an infrastructure package with no SALT is better than no infrastructure package, Democrats can basically kiss the House majority goodbye if there's no SALT in here

If we lose places like VA-10 and CA-49 in 2022, it’ll be because of much bigger problems than not getting rid of the SALT cap. And really, electoral considerations such as keeping the majority isn’t really the point. It’s about what’s right, and continuing to subsidize the lifestyles of the UMC and the rich, is not.

[WD]

https://twitter.com/bresreports/status/1379198557048168451?s=21

I’m getting tired of all this winning

[WD]

From the looks of it, the bipartisan bill is quite solid and a serious compromise. Take that, along with the much bigger reconciliation bill (which will include all the good stuff like tax increases on higher incomes, Paid leave, the rest of the Families plan, etc) and Biden’s got a great win which will play well with the public, and really impact people’s lives. Choosing infrastructure as his main legislative push was an excellent decision on Biden’s part.

[WD]

Don’t care! I have political convictions, policy aims, and moral convictions that are far more important than bribing voter constituencies with the biggest tax cuts for the rich in decades. If the only way for the UMC professionals of the northeast to vote Democratic is to bribe them with obscene tax cuts for the wealthy (and hint: it’s not). it’s not worth it.

The acquiescence of some Democrats to the interests of the UMC is one of the most unfortunate developments to come out of this whole debate, (and really it goes beyond this debate, but that’s a entirely different discussion to be had). I don’t know how you can look at data points like this... ...and conclude that this is right or acceptable whatsoever. The privileged and affluent don’t need more money put in their pockets. There’s a party for you if you support that, but it shouldn’t and will never be (hopefully) the Democratic Party.