Biden infrastructure/tax increase megathread

[Sir Mohamed]

https://twitter.com/axios/status/1452280402073329665

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Somehow Pre K and Childcare made it through.

I actually thought that Manchin and Sinema would oppose Pre K and Childcare before Paid leave and Medicare expansion.

Paid family leave is more important, certainly far more important than universal pre-K (probably one of the least important major programs in the bill).  So is combating global warming, negotiating drug prices, and getting at least a year of free community college, for that matter.  If paid family leave or Medicare expansion fall out completely, there’s no point wasting any more time on this bill.  Might as well just kill the useless BIP and put the reconciliation bill out of its misery at that point (ideally by bringing the full $3.5 trillion bill with everything in it and making Sinemanchin go on record voting against it. 

[compucomp]

(ideally by bringing the full $3.5 trillion bill with everything in it and making Sinemanchin go on record voting against it. 

You may well get your wish, it's quite possible someone brings up the $3.5T as an amendment during the upcoming "vote-a-rama". Then the true level of support for it will be revealed and bust your bubble. I predict it will fail to get 45 votes, just like the $15 minimum wage failed 42-58.

[Vaccinated Russian Bear]

https://twitter.com/FoxNewsSunday/status/1452271564934815761

[Frodo]

Democrats Set to Scale Back Drug-Price Ambitions in Biden’s Bill

Democrats working on President Joe Biden’s big social-spending bill are discussing a proposal to limit the main tool for lowering drug prices to medicines that already face competition, people familiar with the talks said.

The White House proposal, viewed as an effort to win over holdout lawmakers including Senator Kyrsten Sinema, would exempt new drugs and many with the biggest price tags. The change would be a major shift away from earlier proposals that focused mostly on drugs that face no competition.   

Drugs with government-granted exclusivity would be exempt from proposed drug-price negotiation provision, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. The provision is set to be included in the domestic policy package that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday is “more than 90% is agreed to and written.”

A person close to Democratic Congressional leaders confirmed the shift in approach, which is still under debate and is meant to win support from party moderates who have balked at previous drug-pricing proposals. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, whose panel is key to the revenue side of Biden’s agenda, declined to comment on Saturday.

[Buffalo Mayor Young Kim]

Democrats Set to Scale Back Drug-Price Ambitions in Biden’s Bill

Democrats working on President Joe Biden’s big social-spending bill are discussing a proposal to limit the main tool for lowering drug prices to medicines that already face competition, people familiar with the talks said.

The White House proposal, viewed as an effort to win over holdout lawmakers including Senator Kyrsten Sinema, would exempt new drugs and many with the biggest price tags. The change would be a major shift away from earlier proposals that focused mostly on drugs that face no competition.   

Drugs with government-granted exclusivity would be exempt from proposed drug-price negotiation provision, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. The provision is set to be included in the domestic policy package that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday is “more than 90% is agreed to and written.”

A person close to Democratic Congressional leaders confirmed the shift in approach, which is still under debate and is meant to win support from party moderates who have balked at previous drug-pricing proposals. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, whose panel is key to the revenue side of Biden’s agenda, declined to comment on Saturday.

Who the hell decides they want to fight for drug companies’ right to price gouge?

[Frodo]

Democrats Set to Scale Back Drug-Price Ambitions in Biden’s Bill

Democrats working on President Joe Biden’s big social-spending bill are discussing a proposal to limit the main tool for lowering drug prices to medicines that already face competition, people familiar with the talks said.

The White House proposal, viewed as an effort to win over holdout lawmakers including Senator Kyrsten Sinema, would exempt new drugs and many with the biggest price tags. The change would be a major shift away from earlier proposals that focused mostly on drugs that face no competition.   

Drugs with government-granted exclusivity would be exempt from proposed drug-price negotiation provision, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. The provision is set to be included in the domestic policy package that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday is “more than 90% is agreed to and written.”

A person close to Democratic Congressional leaders confirmed the shift in approach, which is still under debate and is meant to win support from party moderates who have balked at previous drug-pricing proposals. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, whose panel is key to the revenue side of Biden’s agenda, declined to comment on Saturday.

Who the hell decides they want to fight for drug companies’ right to price gouge?

Those whose main donors are pharmaceutical corporations. 

[Vaccinated Russian Bear]

https://twitter.com/seungminkim/status/1452282700346372110
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sinema-negotiations-reconciliation/2021/10/23/2341a062-3359-11ec-93e2-dba2c2c11851_story.html
Sinema’s silence on spending bill vexes many Democrats while she digs in on talks out of public view

But Sinema’s whereabouts on the day of the Senate lunch were emblematic of her actual approach, according to people directly familiar with it: Eschew all but a select few congressional colleagues, focus on negotiating directly with the president and his senior aides, burrow in on policy details — and ignore the frustration of those not privy to her thinking.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-Mass.), who held a 30-minute private meeting with Sinema this past week, said the senator effectively ranked her three priorities: a tax credit for renewable energy programs, a child tax credit, and paid leave programs. In their meeting, Neal, the House’s chief tax-writer, said Sinema was adamant about getting something done.

“You and I both know this has got to pass,” Neal said as he recounted his conversation with the senator. “She said, ‘I couldn’t agree more.’ ”

Sinema’s approach has earned her a reputation within the White House as a deliberative negotiator who administration officials feel has always worked in good faith.

“Sen. Sinema is and always has been clear with us,” one White House official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the talks candidly. The official added that those who say otherwise “are telling on themselves. They’re saying they aren’t close enough to the process to know what they’re talking about.”

Sinema’s case to both other lawmakers and Biden is that simply raising the rates will not address the question of tax avoidance nor improve competitiveness, a spokesman said, and her office says both Biden and Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) have been aware of her views on taxes since early August.

Sinema has been militantly tight-lipped about her positions and details of ongoing negotiations, while Manchin has spoken frequently to the news media about his policy stances and what he is willing to embrace. While Sinema embraces the party’s platform on climate, she — to most Democrats — remains stubbornly conservative on corporate and individual tax rates, while Manchin has effectively been the reverse.

Despite her opposition to raising the corporate rate — which Democrats say would be a simpler, cleaner way to strike at big businesses — Sinema has signed off on other sources of revenue that Democrats hope to characterize as fundamental “tax fairness” provisions.

To that end, Sinema has been speaking with Warren in recent days about a proposal that would impose a minimum corporate tax of 15 percent, as well as a “mark-to-market” plan that would raise hundreds of billions of dollars by targeting America’s roughly 700 billionaires, according to an official with direct knowledge of the talks.

“While Senators Sinema and Warren have at times approached tax policy from different perspectives, they have in the course of these negotiations found common ground around policies to address tax avoidance and make our tax code more effective and efficient,” said John LaBombard, a spokesman for Sinema. An aide for Warren added that the conversations have been “productive.”

[Frodo]

Somehow Pre K and Childcare made it through.

I actually thought that Manchin and Sinema would oppose Pre K and Childcare before Paid leave and Medicare expansion.

Paid family leave is more important, certainly far more important than universal pre-K (probably one of the least important major programs in the bill).  So is combating global warming, negotiating drug prices, and getting at least a year of free community college, for that matter.  If paid family leave or Medicare expansion fall out completely, there’s no point wasting any more time on this bill.  Might as well just kill the useless BIP and put the reconciliation bill out of its misery at that point (ideally by bringing the full $3.5 trillion bill with everything in it and making Sinemanchin go on record voting against it. 

Since we have to pick and choose our battles, I would rather concentrate on permanently fixing Obamacare, expanding Medicaid, child care, and paid family leave.  Leave Medicare expansion for another day. 

[Skill and Chance]

I also don't get the emphasis on universal preschool?  What does it accomplish?  By the time the child is 3, the parents have already found a solution to the childcare issue by necessity! 

You would think paid leave would be the #1 focus, especially after COVID.

[Matty]

This thing is so watered down it might end up getting gop support

[7,052,770]

This thing is so watered down it might end up getting gop support

That's called #winning. Biden is a lifelong winner.

[Pres Mike]

I also don't get the emphasis on universal preschool?  What does it accomplish?  By the time the child is 3, the parents have already found a solution to the childcare issue by necessity! 

You would think paid leave would be the #1 focus, especially after COVID.

It’s not just about childcare. Every single study shows going to pre-k at age 3 and 4 gives a child a huge head start. Statistically, they are more likely to do better academically at every level even in college and earn more money. For kids with learning disabilities, it’s a huge help and can drastically catch them up. Pre-K typically costs more than just childcare that watches the kids.

Providing universal pre-k would help the economy massively, short term and long term. The money spent on child care for those two years can be spent on other things. Long term our workers are smarter and more capable

[Buffalo Mayor Young Kim]

https://twitter.com/seungminkim/status/1452282700346372110
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sinema-negotiations-reconciliation/2021/10/23/2341a062-3359-11ec-93e2-dba2c2c11851_story.html
Sinema’s silence on spending bill vexes many Democrats while she digs in on talks out of public view

But Sinema’s whereabouts on the day of the Senate lunch were emblematic of her actual approach, according to people directly familiar with it: Eschew all but a select few congressional colleagues, focus on negotiating directly with the president and his senior aides, burrow in on policy details — and ignore the frustration of those not privy to her thinking.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-Mass.), who held a 30-minute private meeting with Sinema this past week, said the senator effectively ranked her three priorities: a tax credit for renewable energy programs, a child tax credit, and paid leave programs. In their meeting, Neal, the House’s chief tax-writer, said Sinema was adamant about getting something done.

“You and I both know this has got to pass,” Neal said as he recounted his conversation with the senator. “She said, ‘I couldn’t agree more.’ ”

Sinema’s approach has earned her a reputation within the White House as a deliberative negotiator who administration officials feel has always worked in good faith.

“Sen. Sinema is and always has been clear with us,” one White House official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the talks candidly. The official added that those who say otherwise “are telling on themselves. They’re saying they aren’t close enough to the process to know what they’re talking about.”

Sinema’s case to both other lawmakers and Biden is that simply raising the rates will not address the question of tax avoidance nor improve competitiveness, a spokesman said, and her office says both Biden and Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) have been aware of her views on taxes since early August.

Sinema has been militantly tight-lipped about her positions and details of ongoing negotiations, while Manchin has spoken frequently to the news media about his policy stances and what he is willing to embrace. While Sinema embraces the party’s platform on climate, she — to most Democrats — remains stubbornly conservative on corporate and individual tax rates, while Manchin has effectively been the reverse.

Despite her opposition to raising the corporate rate — which Democrats say would be a simpler, cleaner way to strike at big businesses — Sinema has signed off on other sources of revenue that Democrats hope to characterize as fundamental “tax fairness” provisions.

To that end, Sinema has been speaking with Warren in recent days about a proposal that would impose a minimum corporate tax of 15 percent, as well as a “mark-to-market” plan that would raise hundreds of billions of dollars by targeting America’s roughly 700 billionaires, according to an official with direct knowledge of the talks.

“While Senators Sinema and Warren have at times approached tax policy from different perspectives, they have in the course of these negotiations found common ground around policies to address tax avoidance and make our tax code more effective and efficient,” said John LaBombard, a spokesman for Sinema. An aide for Warren added that the conversations have been “productive.”

Eschew all but a select few congressional colleagues, focus on negotiating directly with the president and his senior aides, burrow in on policy details

Yeah, this is why everyone hates you.

[Vaccinated Russian Bear]

https://twitter.com/JakeSherman/status/1452278583095963648

https://twitter.com/JournalistRoss/status/1452386921221603330

[KaiserDave]

This thing is so watered down it might end up getting gop support

No chance lol

[It’s so Joever]

This thing is so watered down it might end up getting gop support

Glad to see you support it!

[Vaccinated Russian Bear]

This thing is so watered down it might end up getting gop support

Would be the best outcome for this country.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

This thing is so watered down it might end up getting gop support

Would be the best outcome for this country.

That's the pt, the Parliamentary said a Reconciliation package can be Amended should Ds win the TRIFECTA and get 53 votes OH, is wave insurance for GA, Beasley and Demings are Afro American socialist Kunce have now a better chance then they, he is 5 pts down and along with Sifton have Kander and Buttigieg appeal, being Vet, Kunce will nix the Filibuster and expand it to 4T

Beasley says she would keep it and DeSantis is giving out 1K stimulus checks he only almost lost in 2018/ due to Scott, he isnt losing with RUBIO

D's if there is a blue wave in 400 days will have 53 or 54 votes and 222/225 H seats going 4(8 STS in Cali making up for TX

Marty thinks polls and SPL Senate are forever NO they are not

[Vaccinated Russian Bear]

https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1452397272852045828

[roxas11]

https://twitter.com/jmartNYT/status/1452299568318754833

Honestly, these results just show how increasingly disconnected a lot of people are from reality

70 percent think we are on the wrong track at a time when Covid has massively declined around the county and unemployment is currently at 4.8 percent and dropping.

In no way, shape or form are things even close to being as bad as they were in 2009/2010 yet you would not know that looking at those wrong track numbers. Biden theory is that he thinks passing popular bills will help the Dems in 2022 and maybe something like that would have been true 20 years ago but now I'm not so sure I buy it

I think even if Biden had the greatest economy of all time Facebook and social media would still convince a lot of people that things are worse than they have ever been

[Calthrina950]

This thing is so watered down it might end up getting gop support

No chance lol

Agreed. I'm still expecting this to pass on a party-line vote.

[Roll Roons]

If BIF does come up for a vote this week, I'm very curious as to how many House Republicans vote in favor. In the Senate, it got 19 GOP votes, including both Senators from Idaho, both from North Dakota and even Mitch McConnell.

[Buffalo Mayor Young Kim]

If BIF does come up for a vote this week, I'm very curious as to how many House Republicans vote in favor. In the Senate, it got 19 GOP votes, including both Senators from Idaho, both from North Dakota and even Mitch McConnell.

A non-zero but negligible amount.

It did it’s job in that it convinced Sinema that she was free to screw everything else up.
McConnell was pretty clear that the GOP Senate votes were a gambit to convince Manchin and Sinema to kill reconciliation and the plan seems to have worked.

[Pres Mike]

If BIF does come up for a vote this week, I'm very curious as to how many House Republicans vote in favor. In the Senate, it got 19 GOP votes, including both Senators from Idaho, both from North Dakota and even Mitch McConnell.

A non-zero but negligible amount.

It did it’s job in that it convinced Sinema that she was free to screw everything else up.
McConnell was pretty clear that the GOP Senate votes were a gambit to convince Manchin and Sinema to kill reconciliation and the plan seems to have worked.

The plan wasn't to kill reconciliation, it was to weaken it to the point that most Americans do not feel the effects before the midterms. Seems to be working