StarTopic US Politics |ST| The Kyrsten Sinema-tic Universe

[Tlozbj]

It seems that negotiations on the reconciliation bill are finally reaching their end. Biden will be hosting Manchin and Schumer at Delaware to finish the framework, while the House expects things to be ready (and pass the BIB) by Wednesday.



While NBC has compiled a list of things that may be out, and things that are still likely to remain in the final package. However, they do not cover all of the original programs of the $3.5T, because of how their status is unknown overall in this negotiations.

Spoiler: Things likely in and likely out of the final bill - NBC

A. WHAT’S (LIKELY) IN

1. A national four-week paid family and medical leave plan, down from the initially proposed 12 weeks. Qualifying reasons for the annual benefit would include recovering from a serious illness, caring for a seriously ill family member or caring for a new child. The White House said the program will provide workers up to $4,000 a month, with a minimum of two-thirds of average weekly wages replaced, rising to 80 percent for the lowest-wage workers.

2. Universal pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds. The federal government would pay for the entirety of the program for the first three years, and then some of the costs would shift to the states.

3. A one-year extension of the child tax credit. Originally expanded under the Covid relief bill, the credit has resulted in parents getting direct cash payments from the IRS for their kids. The White House has estimated that the tax credit has slashed the country's child poverty rate in half. It provides a monthly child cash allowance of $300 per child under 6 years of age and $250 per child 6 to 17 years old for families with qualifying incomes.

4. For those using Medicare, $800 vouchers to help cover annual dental costs. The original proposal would have expanded Medicare coverage to include dental care.

5. Funding for child care centers to offset the cost for families and reinforce the industry's workforce, made up mostly of women of color. The industry was hit particularly hard by the pandemic, and officials believe easier access to child care will make it easier for parents to get back to work.

6. Increases to Pell Grants for low-income college students. The Pell Grant program is the primary college financial aid program for students in need, helping more than 6.7 million of them last year. The proposal would increase the current maximum of $6,495 in assistance a year by $500.

7. Unspecified climate change funding, including tax credits for green technology.

8. Elder care provisions, including increasing home health care funding and reducing health care premiums. The plan originally called for a $400 billion investment in expanding home and community based services, but is expected to be scaled back.

9. A boost to Affordable Care Act subsidies for those using the federal system to buy insurance, making it more affordable.

10. A public option for individuals who can’t get Medicaid in their state. The move, championed by Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., and Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., would make it easier for more than 2 million poor people in states that rejected expanding the ACA to get coverage.

B. WHAT’S (PROBABLY) OUT

1. Free community college. The plan originally would have included two years of free community college, which would have cost the government $109 billion.
Expanded Medicare coverage that would include dental, vision and hearing benefits, an effort that had been championed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

2. The Clean Electricity Performance Program, which would pay electric utility companies that switch from fossil fuels to renewable or clean energy sources and fine those that don’t. The measure is opposed by Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., but Biden said Thursday he's still hopeful it will be included.

3. Tax rate hikes on corporations and top income earners, which are opposed by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz. The White House has looked for other ways to tax businesses and the wealthy and continues to insist any deal will include some new revenues for the government.

Democrats near deal on pared-back spending bill. Here is what’s likely in — and out.

Universal pre-K and money for elder care are likely to be included in the bill, while free community college and expanded Medicare coverage are likely out.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[Ostia]

It seems that negotiations on the reconciliation bill are finally reaching their end. Biden will be hosting Manchin and Schumer at Delaware to finish the framework, while the House expects things to be ready (and pass the BIB) by Wednesday.



While NBC has compiled a list of things that may be out, and things that are still likely to remain in the final package. However, they do not cover all of the original programs of the $3.5T, because of how their status is unknown overall in this negotiations.

Spoiler: Things likely in and likely out of the final bill - NBC

A. WHAT’S (LIKELY) IN

1. A national four-week paid family and medical leave plan, down from the initially proposed 12 weeks. Qualifying reasons for the annual benefit would include recovering from a serious illness, caring for a seriously ill family member or caring for a new child. The White House said the program will provide workers up to $4,000 a month, with a minimum of two-thirds of average weekly wages replaced, rising to 80 percent for the lowest-wage workers.

2. Universal pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds. The federal government would pay for the entirety of the program for the first three years, and then some of the costs would shift to the states.

3. A one-year extension of the child tax credit. Originally expanded under the Covid relief bill, the credit has resulted in parents getting direct cash payments from the IRS for their kids. The White House has estimated that the tax credit has slashed the country's child poverty rate in half. It provides a monthly child cash allowance of $300 per child under 6 years of age and $250 per child 6 to 17 years old for families with qualifying incomes.

4. For those using Medicare, $800 vouchers to help cover annual dental costs. The original proposal would have expanded Medicare coverage to include dental care.

5. Funding for child care centers to offset the cost for families and reinforce the industry's workforce, made up mostly of women of color. The industry was hit particularly hard by the pandemic, and officials believe easier access to child care will make it easier for parents to get back to work.

6. Increases to Pell Grants for low-income college students. The Pell Grant program is the primary college financial aid program for students in need, helping more than 6.7 million of them last year. The proposal would increase the current maximum of $6,495 in assistance a year by $500.

7. Unspecified climate change funding, including tax credits for green technology.

8. Elder care provisions, including increasing home health care funding and reducing health care premiums. The plan originally called for a $400 billion investment in expanding home and community based services, but is expected to be scaled back.

9. A boost to Affordable Care Act subsidies for those using the federal system to buy insurance, making it more affordable.

10. A public option for individuals who can’t get Medicaid in their state. The move, championed by Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., and Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., would make it easier for more than 2 million poor people in states that rejected expanding the ACA to get coverage.

B. WHAT’S (PROBABLY) OUT

1. Free community college. The plan originally would have included two years of free community college, which would have cost the government $109 billion.
Expanded Medicare coverage that would include dental, vision and hearing benefits, an effort that had been championed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

2. The Clean Electricity Performance Program, which would pay electric utility companies that switch from fossil fuels to renewable or clean energy sources and fine those that don’t. The measure is opposed by Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., but Biden said Thursday he's still hopeful it will be included.

3. Tax rate hikes on corporations and top income earners, which are opposed by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz. The White House has looked for other ways to tax businesses and the wealthy and continues to insist any deal will include some new revenues for the government.

Democrats near deal on pared-back spending bill. Here is what’s likely in — and out.

Universal pre-K and money for elder care are likely to be included in the bill, while free community college and expanded Medicare coverage are likely out.

www.nbcnews.com

Child tax credit being extended for only a year is ridiculous, as is NBC continuing to parrot the lie that it cut child poverty in half. The studies that suggested that degree of elimination in child poverty required the policy to be in place over ten years and coincide with other policy proposals ($15 min wage, student loan forgiveness, etc.). It’s disgusting to see this policy treated like a political football with these temporary, 1 year extensions always on the precipice of being eliminated.

 

[Army of Light]

CNN, MSNBC Run Commentary Bashing Climate Legislation From Coal and Oil PR Flacks Without Disclosing Conflicts

CNN’s Scott Jennings and MSNBC’s Mike Murphy are paid by carbon emitter front groups. Shouldn't viewers know this when they comment on the climate-heavy Reconciliation Bill?

thecolumn.substack.com

CNN, MSNBC Run Commentary Bashing Climate Legislation From Coal and Oil PR Flacks Without Disclosing Conflicts
CNN’s Scott Jennings and MSNBC’s Mike Murphy are paid by carbon emitter front groups. Shouldn't viewers know this when they comment on the climate-heavy Reconciliation Bill?

 

[Army of Light]

What's really frustrating about the bill is how so much of the coverage is about the cost and rarely is the coverage about what's in it

 

[Brock Reiher]

What's really frustrating about the bill is how so much of the coverage is about the cost and rarely is the coverage about what's in it

Based on what you posted above, that is likely because "what's in it" is popular and the people covering it are being paid to keep it from passing.

 

[Brannigan]

It’s not just a lack of congressional support, it’s a lack of action taken by the administration to achieve that congressional support. Votes have to be whipped. Sometimes you have to threaten and cajole members of your party who are more beholden to special interest groups than they are to your agenda. Congressional support is not some static value, it can be changed and the president is the person with the most power to change it in their favor.

You're absolutely right, I meant to include something to that effect. Biden and the democrats have also done a poor job of selling the bill to the public. It should have had a better name than "The 3.5T bill

Look at what’s getting cut and what’s (possibly) remaining, see who benefits most from that. Look at the proposals that are in the chopping block. This legislation is more than just a dollar figure, you have to look at which programs are prioritized and which ones are being excised.

Obviously the loss of climate programs and healthcare are a huge loss. But on the other hand, the expansion of preschool is huge. Maybe my perspective as a teacher and father of young children is clouding my vision. What do you see that I don't see?

Child tax credit being extended for only a year is ridiculous

The NYT newsletter today talked about this today. They described it as a way of giving the program (and many others in the bill) a foot in the door, basically a calculated risk that would turn the CTC into something like Obamacare, where the republicans will constantly threaten to get rid of it, but it will be so popular that they won't be able to get rid of it, with the added bonus of controlling the narrative, moving the conversation away from critical race theory and towards popular programs created by democrats.

I agree that it sucks that this is what it takes to do something good for people.

 

[Ostia]

You're absolutely right, I meant to include something to that effect. Biden and the democrats have also done a poor job of selling the bill to the public. It should have had a better name than "The 3.5T bill

Obviously the loss of climate programs and healthcare are a huge loss. But on the other hand, the expansion of preschool is huge. Maybe my perspective as a teacher and father of young children is clouding my vision. What do you see that I don't see?

The NYT newsletter today talked about this today. They described it as a way of giving the program (and many others in the bill) a foot in the door, basically a calculated risk that would turn the CTC into something like Obamacare, where the republicans will constantly threaten to get rid of it, but it will be so popular that they won't be able to get rid of it, with the added bonus of controlling the narrative, moving the conversation away from critical race theory and towards popular programs created by democrats.

I agree that it sucks that this is what it takes to do something good for people.

Pre-K is good, especially in states where they don’t already have such a program. Any expansion of public education is good. It’s not the overhaul our education system really needs though, and doesn’t meaningfully address the vast gulfs in equality between school districts, states etc. It’s definitely a positive thing though.

That treatment of the CTC is exactly the kind of bullshit I’m talking about. Instead of trying to install a popular and necessary program in perpetuity, Democrats are trying to treat this policy as a political football, and leverage the ‘risk’ of it being removed to win electorally. That’s a strategy that has proven to be a failure time and time again, and also puts people in a terrible situation always at threat of losing benefits. People aren’t stupid they see what games are being played and it pisses them off.

 

[VHS]

FINALLY

 

[Brock Reiher]

That treatment of the CTC is exactly the kind of bullshit I’m talking about. Instead of trying to install a popular and necessary program in perpetuity, Democrats are trying to treat this policy as a political football, and leverage the ‘risk’ of it being removed to win electorally. That’s a strategy that has proven to be a failure time and time again, and also puts people in a terrible situation always at threat of losing benefits. People aren’t stupid they see what games are being played and it pisses them off.

It like how the Supreme Court always has to be on the ballot, or how immigration was when Dems had the house but before Biden was in office

 

[VHS]

FDA panel recommends Pfizer's low-dose Covid vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11

The endorsement was a critical step in getting some 28 million more kids in the U.S. protected against the virus as the delta variant spreads.

www.cnbc.com

 

[VHS]

 

[Brock Reiher]

Who would have thought that only the billionaires would be able to notice that taxing the billionaires would cause big trouble

 

[Brock Reiher]

I don't know how this bill can be positively spun at this point. Seems like everything people wanted has been removed or watered down.

 

[Christo750]

I don't know how this bill can be positively spun at this point. Seems like everything people wanted has been removed or watered down.

Genuine question. How do I bring myself to vote for these people in 2022? They are wildly inept and cannot get a single thing done.

Also truly how important is a majority with people like Manchin and Sinema in it? Are there no other vulnerable senate seats?

It's a question I'm sure a lot of people are asking themselves around the country. Democrats are about to get slaughtered in the midterms.

 

[Brannigan]

I don't know how this bill can be positively spun at this point. Seems like everything people wanted has been removed or watered down.

Genuine question. How do I bring myself to vote for these people in 2022? They are wildly inept and cannot get a single thing done.

Also truly how important is a majority with people like Manchin and Sinema in it? Are there no other vulnerable senate seats?

It's a question I'm sure a lot of people are asking themselves around the country. Democrats are about to get slaughtered in the midterms.

I think it is completely fair to be disappointed in the social policy bill and with the democrats for selling it so poorly, especially if a portion of the bill that was going to be very impactful to you was cut.

I think what you do is push for changes in the local elections that you can and primary when you can. Reach out to congresspeople and let them know what is important to you. Vote in primaries. Donate what you can to candidates (especially local candidates) that share your values.

Also focus on what is in the bill (from NYT, i'll try to remember to update this if the real bill changes):

• $555 billion to fight climate change, largely through tax incentives for low-emission sources of energy.
• $400 billion to provide universal prekindergarten to 3- and 4-year-olds, and to significantly reduce health care costs for working families earning up to $300,000 a year.
• $200 billion to extend an expanded tax credit for parents through 2022, and to permanently allow parents to benefit from the child tax credit even if they do not earn enough money to have income tax liability.
• $165 billion to reduce health care premiums for people who are covered through the Affordable Care Act, to provide insurance for an additional four million people through Medicaid and to offer hearing coverage through Medicare.
• $150 billion to reduce a waiting list for in-home care for seniors and disabled Americans, and to improve wages for home health care workers.
• $150 billion to build one million affordable housing units.
• $100 billion for immigration streamlining, in part to reduce a backlog of nine million visas. House Democrats proposed provisions last month to address the legal immigration system, including a plan to recapture hundreds of thousands of unused visas various administrations failed to use over several decades and allow green card applicants to pay higher fees to expedite their processing. The investment outlined on Thursday would also expand legal representation for migrants and streamline processing at the southwest border, officials said. Mr. Biden has faced criticism from both Republicans and Democrats for his handling of migration to the border.
• $40 billion for worker training and higher education, including increasing annual Pell grants by $550.

Please don't think that I'm saying to be happy with this. We need to keep fighting. At the same time, there's a lot of good here and it wouldn't have happened between 2016 and 2020. If you're exhausted with politics and the democrats, it's ok to check out for a while. Focus on Pikmin Bloom or something else. Sometimes self care means taking a break.

 

[Tlozbj]

A framework has seemingly been agreed upon, the White House via Biden's official accounts has release a press statement on what the plan will specifically cover which includes but is not limited to:

• Civilian Climate Corps
• Universal Pre-K for 3 - 4 year olds
• Childcare investment topping cost for parents at 7% of earnings
• CTC expanded for a year + EITC
• Tax credits for renovable energy, reducing costs for a home solar panel system by 30%
• Close the Medicaid Gap in Red States
• Hearing will be included in Medicare
• In addition of the 1 million affordable homes, rental and down payment assisstance is also included
• The Pell Grant hike by $550 + investments for capacity, modernizing infrastructure, and lowering tuitions for low income students in HBCU & MSI.
• Eldercare investments

Not perfect, because of the Moderate Two, but still significant progress.

 

[Brock Reiher]

Genuine question. How do I bring myself to vote for these people in 2022? They are wildly inept and cannot get a single thing done.

Also truly how important is a majority with people like Manchin and Sinema in it? Are there no other vulnerable senate seats?

It's a question I'm sure a lot of people are asking themselves around the country. Democrats are about to get slaughtered in the midterms.

There's really no way to rationalize that the secret to fixing the country is just electing a few more Democrats. Especially when we saw in 2020 that existing Democrats have such a big say in which Senate candidates we get the chance to vote for in the first place. Pressure needs to come from somewhere else, since just voting is obviously a failed strategy.

The new plan looks horrible, by the way. I like how the proposed housing solution mostly involves just giving more money for contractors to build apartments that they can then make money off of.


Retired people are basically the only people who reliably vote, yeah?

 

[bmfrosty]

Genuine question. How do I bring myself to vote for these people in 2022? They are wildly inept and cannot get a single thing done.

I answer the question by thinking about the alternative. That would be zero bills passed. The republicans would have a committee trying to impeach Biden and Harris simultaneously over Ashley Babbitt while adding riders to bills lifting the debt ceiling to make abortion illegal.

I don't want to be called a democrat, but I vote democrat because having republicans in control is fucking scary.

 

[Mekanos]

I’m pretty happy with my local Dem rep so I have no problem voting for her again or voting on local politics but I don’t live in a place where I can vote out the shitty senators and I live in a safe blue state so I can’t swing Joe Biden as a voter. It’s best I think if people try to focus on local politics, federal politics have been in a gridlock for a good 30+ years, between the undemocratic Senate and politicians being bought off easily.

 

[Brock Reiher]

I answer the question by thinking about the alternative. That would be zero bills passed. The republicans would have a committee trying to impeach Biden and Harris simultaneously over Ashley Babbitt while adding riders to bills lifting the debt ceiling to make abortion illegal.

I don't want to be called a democrat, but I vote democrat because having republicans in control is fucking scary.

The alternative may actually be better. It's not secret that people were a lot more motivated to demand change, and Blue state governors were more willing to enact change, when the Trump admin was the one blocking progress instead of the Biden admin. This upcoming bill will both be used as an excuse to not do anything more ("we already did xyz! don't you care about xyz?") and will be horrible for Democrats downballot in 2022 and 2024 as voters rightfully realize how horribly inadequate it is. There's really not anything good about this news.

 

[Rick Bruiser]

The alternative may actually be better. It's not secret that people were a lot more motivated to demand change, and Blue state governors were more willing to enact change, when the Trump admin was the one blocking progress instead of the Biden admin. This upcoming bill will both be used as an excuse to not do anything more ("we already did xyz! don't you care about xyz?") and will be horrible for Democrats downballot in 2022 and 2024 as voters rightfully realize how horribly inadequate it is. There's really not anything good about this news.

Boss there are loads of good things about this news. Trying to game out how doing nothing now might lead to a better outcome 6 years from now is deep mental gymnastics. We have to work with the possibilities and info we're given, and sometimes that means a good thing is a good thing without projecting it out into some catastrophic domino effect.

And which blue states are slowing down? California & New York are still lighting shit up.

 

[Brock Reiher]

Boss there are loads of good things about this news. Trying to game out how doing nothing now might lead to a better outcome 6 years from now is deep mental gymnastics. We have to work with the possibilities and info we're given, and sometimes that means a good thing is a good thing without projecting it out into some catastrophic domino effect.

And which blue states are slowing down? California & New York are still lighting shit up.

I am doing what I can by refusing to pretend to be satisfied with what Dems are doing right now.

 

[Tlozbj]

The alternative may actually be better. It's not secret that people were a lot more motivated to demand change, and Blue state governors were more willing to enact change, when the Trump admin was the one blocking progress instead of the Biden admin. This upcoming bill will both be used as an excuse to not do anything more ("we already did xyz! don't you care about xyz?") and will be horrible for Democrats downballot in 2022 and 2024 as voters rightfully realize how horribly inadequate it is. There's really not anything good about this news.

We can all agree and disagree on how the final BBB ended up being and what it will cause, but this really ain't it. The alternative of more Trump to keep Democrats quickly moving progressive change at the state level, simply because a extremely good federal bill did not end up being perfect is just crazy. Even more when you consider the mental and emotional stress the last four years was on women, immigrants, us in the LGBT community, AAPI, blacks, and other minorities. I understand being unsatisfied, but wanting some accelerationism isn't the way, especially because the text can include more than the bullet points. For example, per the text of the bill Puerto Rico will finally have Medicare parity and our low-income elderly will have proper access to SSI.

 

[bmfrosty]

Right. The bill is a good thing. What's not good is letting perfect be the enemy of the good.

 

[Phosphorescent Skeleton]

Right. The bill is a good thing. What's not good is letting perfect be the enemy of the good.

Wanting an actual meal is the enemy of getting thrown table scraps I guess

 

[Mekanos]

It’s probably worth mentioning statistically the people least likely to vote are poor minorities so the whole “think of minorities and vote!” thing rings a little hollow.

 

[Rick Bruiser]

I am doing what I can by refusing to pretend to be satisfied with what Dems are doing right now.

You don't have to be satisfied. I'm not. But that still doesn't mean the alternative would be better. So I'll keep fighting for the not-good-enough over the absolutely-terrible.

 

[VHS]

You don't have to be satisfied. I'm not. But that still doesn't mean the alternative would be better. So I'll keep fighting for the not-good-enough over the absolutely-terrible.

Exactly, "dont let good be the enemy of perfect".

 

[Phosphorescent Skeleton]

Exactly, "dont let good be the enemy of perfect".

I'm sorry. Expect less doesn't exactly inspire confidence.

 

[VHS]

I'm sorry. Expect less doesn't exactly inspire confidence.

That's your choice, pragmatism is the way forward for progressive policies however. Shouting and taking your toys home when you lose instead of working forward is not the way to govern/politick.

 

[Phosphorescent Skeleton]

That's your choice, pragmatism is the way forward for progressive policies however. Shouting and taking your toys home when you lose instead of working forward is not the way to govern/politick.

I don't know dude, hasn't been working so far. Also, how does calling out ineffective politicians and holding them accountable "taking my toys home"?

 

[VHS]

I don't know dude, hasn't been working so far. Also, how does calling out ineffective politicians and holding them accountable "taking my toys home"?

How are you holding them accountable? Primarying them would be the only solution, unless you're going to suggest a third party vote. Outside of a primary, there is no tenable solution here. And things are definitely working, we are in month 10 of the biden admin and we are already doing more than the previous 4 years to help people.

 

[VHS]

 

[Brock Reiher]

You don't have to be satisfied. I'm not. But that still doesn't mean the alternative would be better. So I'll keep fighting for the not-good-enough over the absolutely-terrible.

So far things have been continuing in the same decline that they did under Trump, and this new bill doesn't give me any confidence.

 

[Rick Bruiser]

So far things have been continuing in the same decline that they did under Trump, and this new bill doesn't give me any confidence.

oh fure sure this bill doesn't fix any of the long term issues that are plaguing us

but it'll help a lot of people.

 

[Brannigan]

So far things have been continuing in the same decline that they did under Trump, and this new bill doesn't give me any confidence.

What makes you say that? What would you like to see happen?

 

[Brock Reiher]

What makes you say that? What would you like to see happen?

I would have liked the original version of the bill, for starters. I would like less funding to the military, I would like reversal of Trump sanctions, foreign military interventions, and immigration policies. I would like housing aid that isn't primarily going towards the people who are driving housing costs in the first place, and for people to be able to afford to go to school and get sick without getting helplessly and debt. And I would like all the people in charge of rising airline prices to go to jail.

What has improved since Biden took office?

 

[bmfrosty]

Wanting an actual meal is the enemy of getting thrown table scraps I guess

Yeah, but getting table scraps (and I don't agree with the metaphor) is not a reason to help the guy who's going to take them away and then steal your lunch money.

 

[Tlozbj]

oh fure sure this bill doesn't fix any of the long term issues that are plaguing us

but it'll help a lot of people.

This, it may not help all the people it would have, but it will still help a lot. Just as an example, and knowing it is anecdotal, my friend and family circle would be help tremendously overall. Just to list some:

- A gruncle on my maternal grandmother's side will finally be able to have decent living conditions because of the extra money he will receive via SSI. He currently receives less than $400 per month by SS

- My mom will get a more noticeable tax return because of how PR has applied the EITC at the local level

- An aunt who does online raffles to pay her bills and raise my youngest cousin will be able to get two years of CTC. Previously in PR, you needed at least 3 kids to apply for the original CTC. She expects to use the money for a savings account for my cousin and building a small safe house near my paternal grandmother's. Since she lives near the beach and is worried since the earthquakes that hit Puerto Rico.

- A friend of my mom that works in a federal childcare will have more financial stability because of the funds they will receive from this and ARP. In the past, she has had checks delayed for weeks and months because of lack of funds.

- Friends who are still finishing their Bachelor Degree and used the PELL grant residue to buy books, lunch and snacks (one usually is at uni from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. because of extracurriculars), and gas will be able to do it again with the $550 hike. This after being unable to because of how the University of Puerto Rico had to raise its prices by order of the Federal Financial Oversight and Management Board.

- Our public university, which 11 campuses count as MSI, will be able to finish updating its labs and classrooms with the money they receive. This after starting partially with the CARES, 2nd stimulus bill, and ARP funds.

- In my case, the money destined for MSIs with the goal of reducing costs for low income students may help to lower the amounts of loans I will have to take during my PharmD. I expect to start next year at the island's public university, and only have 15% of the total tuition ($28.8k at current price) covered at this point.

 

[Brock Reiher]

Yeah, but getting table scraps (and I don't agree with the metaphor) is not a reason to help the guy who's going to take them away and then steal your lunch money.

the people talking our lunch money in this case are Manchin, Sinema, and the countless democratic politicians hiding behind them as they tear out the promises they were elected on from this bill

 

[bmfrosty]

the people talking our lunch money in this case are Manchin, Sinema, and the countless democratic politicians hiding behind them as they tear out the promises they were elected on from this bill

Manchin, Sinema, and 50 republicans. If we had 2 more less conservative or centrist democrats we would have passed it a 6bil by now.

 

[Brock Reiher]

Manchin, Sinema, and 50 republicans. If we had 2 more less conservative or centrist democrats we would have passed it a 6bil by now.

We would not, because then other corrupt democrats like Chris Coons would suddenly find their courage. These people are quite literally taking your money and making sure it primarily goes to their friends in the health care, defense, and fossil fuel industries.

 

[Tlozbj]

We would not, because then other corrupt democrats like Chris Coons would suddenly find their courage. These people are quite literally taking your money and making sure it primarily goes to their friends in the health care, defense, and fossil fuel industries.

You are missing the point of how Manchin and Sinema can do what they are doing, especially Manchin. He can do it because he is a Democrat from a Trump +39% state, the party needs him more than he needs the party. It was assumed Sinema was the same, but look at how she began to bend and be more communicative as Biden was spotted with Gallego.

Someone like Coons from a D +19% state would not have such a sway. Why? Because he can actually be threatened with a primary, he is replaceable for the caucus as they know another D would just fill that seat. Something that is impossible with Manchin, and depends on the challenger with Sinema.

 

[Brock Reiher]

You are missing the point of how Manchin and Sinema can do what they are doing, especially Manchin. He can do it because he is a Democrat from a Trump +39% state, the party needs him more than he needs the party. It was assumed Sinema was the same, but look at how she began to bend and be more communicative as Biden was spotted with Gallego.

Someone like Coons from a D +19% state would not have such a sway. Why? Because he can actually be threatened with a primary, he is replaceable for the caucus as they know another D would just fill that seat. Something that is impossible with Manchin, and depends on the challenger with Sinema.

Coons is old friends with Biden, who would threaten him? Nobody is threatening Sinema. Manchin is on committees that he could be removed from. Nothing is happening because they serve an important role as a heel.

 

[Tlozbj]

Coons is old friends with Biden, who would threaten him? Nobody is threatening Sinema. Manchin is on committees that he could be removed from. Nothing is happening because they serve an important role as a heel.

Coons - The DSCC, caucus leaders, even Biden himself. Because from the small tidbits that come out from the WH, one can know Biden is not a stranger to getting rough when needed.

Sinema - Threats do not have to be direct. The implication of Biden being with someone who is heavily rumored as primary challenger for 2024 is enough. It is no coincidence that she began to be more collaborative after Biden was spotted with Ruben Gallego.

Manchin - Refer to the previous post

The neccessity of a heel - There are no heels once you understand how each member can be pushed, influenced, and sometimes "threathened" or how they cannot be, and how this affects the dynamics of a 50 seat caucus.

Though however this discourse of Democrats always finding a heel is getting a bit old. Since the primary we have gone from "No progress is going to happen" (Biden wins nomination) to "Okay, maybe some progress is happening" (ARP) to "There is progress happening, but it is not perfect" (BIB & BBB). The goalpost simply continues to get moved every time that something actually happens. Then when someone suggests we would be in a better position with more seats, the heel idea pops up. When in reality there is no heel, a big tent party simply has internal issues that become extremely evident when they only have a 4 seat House majority and a majority in the Senate because there is a Dem VP.

 

[Phosphorescent Skeleton]

I told myself I'd stop engaging with this thread, and I'm just gonna stick to that

 

[xghost777]

I know it is easy to get discouraged because progress feels intangible and the massive bleeding from the last four years especially hasn’t been addressed. I’m disappointed with Biden and the Democrats so far, seeing the bill torn to shreds sucks, and certain areas and agencies Biden has direct authority over, the post office and student loans for example, and seeing him do nothing substantial there is infuriating. At the same time, it was obvious we did not do enough in 2020 to elect more/better people. Our House and Senate margins should not be remotely as tight as they are after the last four years in particular. I never know who I’m more mad at, the assholes or the complacent assholes, but unfortunately we have way too much of both.

You have to stay engaged at every level from local, to state, to national which seems intimidating, but it’s not really that bad. There are more resources out there to help you catch up and make informed decisions. It’s making sure not just you are engaged, but your friends and family are in the hopes that they too will keep pushing their friends and family to stay engaged. Whenever elections approach I’m doing research on every candidate/measure/etc. together with my close friends and reaching out to the rest so they know to vote. Local politics is just as important as national politics and cool things happen when you remain engaged. Watching my once very conservative local town improve over the last ten years as we put better people in charge for example is satisfying. I live in California and it was by no means perfect, but because we elect people who care at the state level there were more resources/protections than other states in dealing with the impacts of the pandemic.

I guess I’m saying, be mad as you should and use that anger to stay engaged, and keep your community engaged. People who check out are destined to lose and there are way too many people/systems working to crush us if we let them. Hold politicians accountable and primary them when you have better candidates. We can actually change things for the better if we keep pushing.

 

[Mekanos]

At the same time, it was obvious we did not do enough in 2020 to elect more/better people. Our House and Senate margins should not be remotely as tight as they are after the last four years in particular.

The blame for that lies at politicians who spend millions of dollars to get elected and fail. 2020 had record turnout so it's not like people didn't vote. Democrats were as engaged as possible and still didn't secure a Senate majority until a run-off.

Federal politics have been a largely immovable gridlock for decades and nobody in power is interested in changing that.

 

[Ostia]

That's your choice, pragmatism is the way forward for progressive policies however. Shouting and taking your toys home when you lose instead of working forward is not the way to govern/politick.

Since when did inadequacy become synonymous with pragmatism?

Oh right, when it became useful for defending Democrats at all times

 

[xghost777]

The blame for that lies at politicians who spend millions of dollars to get elected and fail. 2020 had record turnout so it's not like people didn't vote. Democrats were as engaged as possible and still didn't secure a Senate majority until a run-off.
Federal politics have been a largely immovable gridlock for decades and nobody in power is interested in changing that.

The presidential election certainly had record turn out. Did the right candidates win their primaries though (or even run) and then did they actually get voted in is more what I’m concerned about. If we all only show up for the presidential election and then don’t vote down ballot that’s a problem. I’m not saying vote blue no matter who to be clear, it’s who we choose to be on the ballot that’s most important. The candidates that spend millions of dollars need to spend them more effectively to actually reach / connect with people.

I think the representative I wanted to win for my district lost for example because his TV presence was super weak compared to the awful other guy. For other districts maybe they need to go door to door more. Candidates and voters both need to step up efforts.