The initial bill for the Build Back Better plan, which targets health care, education and the environment in particular and opposed by two Democratic senators from the conservative wing, reached $ 3.5 trillion, or double the most recent proposal.
The president, who had delayed his departure for Europe, where he is due to participate in the G20 Summit in Rome, then at the COP26 in Glasgow in the hope of reaching an agreement, described the framework
of this economic planhistorical
during an address given at the White House.
After intense months of behind-the-scenes negotiations, but also in the public arena, the Democrat, who proposed ambitious reforms intended to extend the social safety net, admitted having had to add water to his wine.
The program, the outlines of which have been drawn but whose main lines remain to be defined, retains the priorities of the Democratic president, such as free preschool. It still targets financial assistance for childcare services, the fight against climate change, the construction of affordable housing and home care, in particular, but the amounts allocated to it would be more modest.
The new version of the plan, for example, increases the sums invested in clean energies and the reduction of greenhouse gases from 678 billion dollars to 555 billion.
However, he abandoned free access to community college, the drop in the price of prescription drugs and the idea of parental leave. The United States is therefore preparing to remain the only country in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) not to offer paid leave to parents.
No one got everything they wanted, including me. But this is the essence of a compromise. That’s the consensus, and that’s what I campaigned on.
According to the White House, the proposal on the table would not put the country in debt. Its fiscal framework would be financed by measures such as the introduction of a minimum tax of 15% on the profits of companies that report profits of more than $ 1 billion and the introduction of surcharges on the rich. : 5% on the income of the rich over $ 10 million and an additional 3% on income over $ 25 million.
Joe Biden clarified that the proposed plan does not include further taxing people with incomes below $ 400,000 a year – concession to Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema, hostile to tax hikes, even for wealthy Americans.
The plan was warmly praised by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who compared it to the one launched in the 1930s to get the country out of the Great Depression. New Deal. “,” text “:” This is remarkable. It is remarkable in that it presents a broader vision than what we have seen for a very long time, perhaps since President Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal. “}}”>It’s amazing. It is remarkable in that it presents a broader vision than what we have seen for a very long time, perhaps since President Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal.
The infrastructure plan as a bargaining chip
Joe Biden was hoping to be able to announce a deal ahead of his official trip to Italy and Scotland.
Before his departure for Rome, he met in the morning with House Democrats on Capitol Hill to try to convince them to adhere to his plan.
and my presidency– will be determined by what happens next week “,” text “:” I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that the majorities in the House and Senate – and my presidency – will be determined by what happens next week “}}”>I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that the majorities in the House and Senate – and my presidency – will be determined by what happens next week.
, he told them, according to a source, probably the same, cited by the New York Times and the Washington Post.
votes in the United States Senate “,” text “:” We have an executive who will get 50 votes in the United States Senate “}}”>We have an executive who will get 50 votes in the United States Senate
, he would have assured.
In the face of the uncertainty surrounding the adoption of the vast program of social policies in the Senate, representatives of the progressive camp have refused for weeks to vote in favor of the trillion dollar infrastructure plan which has already been adopted by the government. Senate.
Nancy Pelosi hoped, in the wake of Joe Biden’s new proposal, to pass the infrastructure bill before the latter’s arrival in Italy in the evening.
One of the leading Democrats in the House, however, cut her intentions short. Progressives have been clear and consistent for MONTHS
Rep. Pramila Jayapal wrote on Twitter.
The two bills must pass together – and when the full legislative text of the popular ‘Build Back Better’ bill is ready and accepted, we’ll be happy to push through the President’s entire agenda.
In a note sent in the evening to her Democratic colleagues, Nancy Pelosi was reassuring about the success of the two initiatives.
The good news is that our members who weren’t ready to vote yes today have expressed their commitment to supporting the [Cadre bipartisan pour les infrastructures] and the Reconstruct Better Bill
, she wrote.
Before giving the green light to the new version of the plan Build back better
, progressives continue to want stronger guarantees of the support of Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema.
After months of productive and good faith negotiations with President Biden and the White House, we have made significant progress on the proposed budget reconciliation plan
, Kyrsten Sinema said in a statement. However, she did not go so far as to announce the green light, nor, moreover, than Senator Manchin.
This last don’t think anyone can say they can support [le plan] as long as he hasn’t seen the text
. Last month, he said he would not accept a bill over 1.5 trillion.
In the Senate, over which the Democrats barely exercise their control, the fate of Joe Biden’s social program hangs by a thread, retained by these two elected so-called centrists.
On Twitter, Senate Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell slammed Democrats for a irresponsible taxation
and an spending spree
, because he felt that the Biden plan was going harm American families and help China
.
As this bill is linked to a procedure known as reconciliation
, Democratic senators could do without Republican votes to get it adopted.