Top Dems leave door open to trimming Biden's $3.5T price tag

[Calista241]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Omaha Steve (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Associated Press

Congress’ two top Democrats seemed to leave the door open Wednesday to ultimately reducing the $3.5 trillion price tag of President Joe Biden’s plan to boost social and environment programs, illustrating party divisions they will spend weeks trying to resolve.

The leaders seemed to suggest what many lawmakers and analysts have long predicted and progressives fear — satisfying moderates may well require shrinking the measure, perhaps by hundreds of billions of dollars. They spoke as 13 House committees have begun writing pieces of the bill, an initial step leaders hope to complete by next week.

“We will have our negotiations,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters, saying her chamber would produce “a great bill that honors the values of the president.” She added, “I don’t know what the number will be.”

Asked separately if he would back a less costly measure, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said, “We’re going to all come together to get something big done. And second, it’s our intention to have every part of the Biden plan in a big and robust way.”

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-nancy-pelosi-520ab7773adb68c6df4ac559c94c3687

[msongs]

1. manchin says a bare maybe to $1.5 tril so maybe he will settle for $2 tril nt

[2naSalit]

2. Whatever gets trimmed in this Bill...

Will likely end up in another one following soon after. The leaders have suggested that they may have to break things into smaller pieces but they intend to get it all done.

[MichMan]

3. Not under reconciliation

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Biden hasn't finished his first year in office

There are 3 more to go. They could have at it again before the mid-term elections starting in October 2022 for fiscal year 2023, as another reconciliation bill.

[MichMan]

11. The post I replied to said "soon after"

I assume that didn't mean a year or two from now

[BumRushDaShow]

12. And the post ALSO said "have to break up into pieces"

so not talking about doing it ALL "soon after", but possibly parts of it "soon after" and I suggest "the rest" could be done by reconciliation in fiscal year 2023.

[BlueIdaho]

4. Nothing like raising the white flag before the process even starts.

This is not why we busted our asses to elect Democrats

[groundloop]

7. Don't be so defeatist..... this is how things work.

It was inevitable that the bill will evolve as it makes its way through Congress. So long as we get a significant portion of President Biden's priorities we'll be a hell of a lot better off than we were.

Until we can flip a few more Senate seats we're stuck with the likes of Manchin and Sinema. At least they'll vote with Democrats the majority of the time, if either one lost their seat we'd be totally screwed. We just need to make sure we can add some seats in the midterms.

[BlueIdaho]

8. Nope

I’m tired of being the reasonable progressive. BTW - I’m not the defeatist, that’s the leadership deciding to give up ground before first contact with republicans.

[brush]

16. Always start with a big number anticipating some give in negotiations.

I suspect that's what the 3.5 trillion number is. It's like buy a car or a house...you offer less than the asking price and see what seller comes back with then take it from there.

They'll get at a good number, probably around 3 trillion, and both the reconciliation bill and the bipartisan bill will be passed. Infrastructure projects with thousands of good jobs will ramp up in all the states, parents will continue getting the $300 per kid per month, there will be free day care and parents can get back to work, there will be free community college, and Dems will keep majorities in Congress because of all of the above.

And not to mention the revelations that will come out of the House committee on complicit republicans in the Jan. 6 insurrection.

We're rolling.

[Sherman A1]

6. I'm fine with trimming it

as long as all the trimming comes out of items destined for West Virginia and Arizona. Then these two clowns can explain it to their constituents during the next primary.

[aocommunalpunch]

9. LMAO

Getting the Sausage Made just doesn’t have the same ring to it as Build Back Better. Too bad we can’t threaten the rulers of America. Just untouchable. I bet the Pukes could find some dirt on ‘em.

[BlueIdaho]

10. Our enemy is not the pukes

It’s Chuck and Nancy’s corporate overlords.

[Deminpenn]

13. This is how legislating and negotiating go

Whatever comes out of the house will be a good bill and certainly move American forward.

[AZLD4Candidate]

14. There is that weakness Democrats are known for.

[cstanleytech]

15. Regardless monies for this should be allotted mainly to states with Senators that vote yes.

If the Senator votes no then its a sign that their state has chosen to opt out of most of the benefits.

[Omaha Steve]

17. After a review by forum hosts....LOCKING

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