Democrats are moving ahead without Republicans on Covid relief

[DonViejo]

By Lauren Fox, CNN

Updated 8:30 AM ET, Tue February 2, 2021

Washington (CNN)Democrats are moving now to fast-track a Covid relief package.

If Republicans want to come along, great. Democrats are arguing Republicans can vote for budget reconciliation. If Republicans don't like the plan, they can keep talking to the White House, but the underlying takeaway from the meeting on Monday night -- and all the messages from the White House in the days before that -- is the President is only willing to negotiate so much. Republicans' $618 billion proposal with no state and local funding is not going to cut it. Period.

Bottom line: President Joe Biden has the House. Biden has the Senate. He has a procedural process that gives him the chance that pass a $1.9 trillion relief package with just Democratic votes and conveniently, it's a process that Republicans used just four years ago to jam through a tax plan and try to repeal Obamacare.

Democrats are making a two-pronged calculation

1. They aren't doing anything Republicans haven't done.

2. Their plan is going to be popular with voters and no one is going to care how they got there.

We will see on the second point, but when you are talking about giving people direct checks, expanding unemployment insurance, giving people more money to buy food and raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, you aren't talking about unpopular ideas. Democratic aides tell CNN over and over again this isn't repealing Obamacare. They are giving people something, not taking something away, and that's emboldened members to act swiftly and decisively and not give in to talk that they have to unify the country by bringing Republicans onboard with a plan.

more
https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/02/politics/congress-covid-aid-bill-latest/index.html

[mucifer]

1. Each day dems are saying the same thing. We are unified they are in disarray

This is so exciting.

[Karma13612]

4. Your use of the little

Green jumpy thing is so perfect next to the words “This is so exciting”.

Sorry, I know it’s trivial with all the democracy stuff flying around, but it was so funny just now. I’m a really visual person.!

And I need to make my next cup of tea a ‘decaf’ apparently!!!

Have a great day!!!

[mucifer]

7. yeah I love :bounce: I use it a lot

[murielm99]

17. I like "green jumpy thing" better.

[Ohiogal]

2. Republicans are freaking out in fear

that someone by their definition “undeserving “ will get something for nothing. Otherwise known in their parlance as “free stuff at our expense”. I hear this from my conservative sister all the time.

[Yavin4]

18. Republicans have been giving the undeserving something for nothing for decades now.

It's called tax cuts for the rich.

[Tommymac]

23. Bottom line, conservative rethuglicans are selfish and self-serving at heart.

Sorry, my sympathies to you re your sister, but history shows that is the Truth.

They take a village.

For us, it takes a village.

[Ohiogal]

24. Oh, no offense taken.

You’re certainly correct that they are selfish and self serving.

[pamdb]

3. Question

Can they do it without all democratic senators voting yes? Joe Manchin has said he won’t support it. And, what’s her name from AZ, Sinema? As well.

[Turin_C3PO]

6. No, we need all Democrats on board.

I’m not sure about Sinema but Manchin is getting seriously pressured by Harris and the WV governor to pass this bill. I think all Dems will vote for the legislation.

[Johnny2X2X]

16. Manchin and Sinema are on board

I think you're confused, they said they wouldn't support ending the fillabuster, both are on board with the relief package and passing it through Reconciliation.

[lagomorph777]

19. I heard Manchin sounding fairly positive the other day.

I assume he would like to keep his job, and even in WV, people need help.

[HariSeldon]

5. I still think we should have punitive aspects in the reconciliation bill

Taxation targeting predominantly Republican demographics could be a win-win here: it pressures Republicans to cooperate now, and if not it provides more funding for what Democrats want to do and/or a "bank" of carrots to offer Republicans on future legislation. These people sided (admittedly before the fact, but you lay down in the bed you make) with insurrectionists...there are consequences. And there's no question this qualifies for the reconciliation process.

[FBaggins]

13. There almost has to be

Reconciliation (which I still don't expect to actually happen) requires the package to be deficit-neutral over ten years. They can't cut taxes (or increase spending - depending on how you want to score it) by almost $2T without offsetting revenue increases.

That means that in order to use reconciliation, the package needs to include a fairly massive tax increase down the road. There's no way that a package authored by Democrats is going to put those taxes on the working classes.

[Blaukraut]

21. Can they repeal parts of Trump's tax cut in this package?

Especially the part that cuts taxes for the wealthy.

[FBaggins]

22. If they have unanimous support from all Democrats, yes

Likely, no.

It's also important to recognize that many of those cuts already had sunset dates in them so that the 10-year price would work out. If current law already says that a cut is going away, there isn't as much budget savings in changing when it goes away.

[Wounded Bear]

8. Go big or go home...

[no_hypocrisy]

9. I don't get it.

The Covid relief is a political plus and Republicans are turning down a chance to take partial credit for it.

[UCmeNdc]

10. The GOP would love to paint the Democratic Party as the "Do Nothing" party.

Covid Relief would make the Democratic Party look like people who can get things done!

[no_hypocrisy]

11. I still don't get it.

Republicans can share the glory, perhaps even try to get away with "It was our idea". Instead of "gotcha politics", the Republicans can share the stage for their applause.

[Ohiogal]

20. Republicans see this as

Last edited Tue Feb 2, 2021, 02:09 PM - Edit history (1)

“massive giveaways”. It goes against their vision of rugged self reliance.

For everyone but themselves.

[NewDayOranges]

12. GOOD!

😎

[McKim]

14. Good, We are the Majority!!!!!

Good, we are the majority and people need this soooo badly!!!! No more reaching across the aisle! These selfish people wanted to go back to "trickle down" but the people are tired of being trickled on, as my auntie Mary would say!

[ananda]

15. I think there was a 77% approval for this relief!

Go for it, Dems!

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

25. As well they should

If the Republicans want to quibble with minutiae in the middle of an emergency they'll find it's not a winning strategy.

[11 Bravo]

26. Good! Fuck 'em.

(Republicans, that is.)

We tried that striving for bi-partisanship and unity bullshit in '09. They gave us the back of their hand.

So fuck 'em.