Democrats are reluctantly narrowing the scope of President Joe Biden’s signature social spending bill, Build Back Better, in an attempt to salvage the president’s ambitious domestic agenda and avoid a humiliating defeat in the crucial midterm elections next year..
The revised framework, which is expected to be released as early as Wednesday, will include a smaller price tag and fewer of the party’s long-held priorities, according to three people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private deliberations..
The changes are the result of months of negotiations with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), a centrist Democrat who has repeatedly expressed concerns about the bill’s cost and its potential impact on inflation. Manchin’s support is critical because Democrats need all 50 members of their caucus to pass the bill in the Senate..
The revised bill is expected to include funding for a number of popular programs, including expanded access to health care, clean energy initiatives, and universal prekindergarten. However, some key provisions, such as paid family leave and a Civilian Climate Corps, are likely to be dropped..
The White House and congressional Democrats have been under intense pressure to reach an agreement on Build Back Better before the end of the year. The bill is seen as a crucial part of Biden’s agenda, and its passage would be a major victory for the president..
However, the negotiations have been complicated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the rising cost of living, and the increasing political polarization in the country. Democrats are also facing a tight deadline, as the current fiscal year ends on Sept. 30..
The revised framework is expected to be met with resistance from some progressive Democrats, who have been pushing for a more ambitious bill. However, party leaders are hoping that the revised bill will be able to attract support from both moderates and progressives, as well as from Manchin..
The Senate is expected to vote on the revised bill in the coming weeks. If it passes the Senate, it will then go to the House of Representatives for a vote..
The outcome of the negotiations is still uncertain, but the narrowing of the bill’s scope is a sign that Democrats are willing to make concessions in order to get something passed before the end of the year..
If the bill is passed, it would be a major victory for Biden and would help to cement his legacy as a consequential president. However, if the bill fails, it would be a major setback for Biden and would damage the Democratic Party’s chances in the midterm elections next year..
