No BS. How likely is it that Biden gets the American Jobs Plan passed?

[Drunken Irishman]

I'm assuming it will be done through reconciliation, right? I know Manchin seemed open to raising taxes but is this something Biden can really get passed or just a hope to campaign on?

[LymphocyteLover]

1. I'm quite optimistic he'll get it though much like the ARP

I'm more worried about other parts of his agenda especially on voting rights

[Drunken Irishman]

2. I think voting rights will be tough.

[brewens]

3. I just heard some woman for West Virginia crowing about how great it would be for their state.

It might be something the republicans won't dare try and block because if they do, someone might just be more willing to dump the filibuster.

[Claustrum]

4. Not a chance.

The talking point about how expensive it is is already going around. My parent were talking loudly just minutes ago how wasteful democrats are and how evil democrats are doing this to steal money. In this day and age, always assume the republicans will block and be against whatever we purpose. They will find some way to criticize it no matter how dumb and illogical it is.

You also can look at the last stimulus package. All republicans voted no on it and then they came out after saying how great part of it is as if it was their ideas and they got it through.

[Stinky The Clown]

20. That was the mayor of Charleston, Democrat Amy Goodwin

[Celerity]

5. Will both parts (2 trillion usd each, 4 trillion total) be lumped into one reconciliation bill?

background on the two parts

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100215289185

If only one part is done through reconciliation, then the other is doomed, unless he is planning to do it (the 2nd part) via reconciliation next year (which will potentially be the last chance saloon for reconciliation if we lose the House and/or the Senate in 2022).

The multiple voting rights bills will NOT be passed unless Manchin, Sinema, and Feinstein cave in and approve of substantive filibuster modifications that actually allow us to actually pass them. Without those voting rights bills, we (and the nation in general) are well fucked going forward, due to the SCOTUS likely gutting pre-existing laws, then the new 250+ voter suppression bills at state level in 43 or more states, plus the cocked-up partisan gerrymandering (for both state and federal districts) that is going to occur between now and the 2022 elections.

[drray23]

6. one hundred percent.

I totally trust Biden and our leadership in house and senate to figure it out.
We have the best combination of seasoned politicians we ever had holding white house, senate and house.

[Baked Potato]

7. It will pass. I hope President Biden explains it in ways all Americans

can fully understand, in multiple presentations if need be.

Show the needs.

Show exactly what it will do, state-by-state, bridges, roads, internet, etc.

Show exactly with numbers how it will be funded.

All forms of media must be utilized to pump the program up.

This must be a full on push with all Democrats on the same page. Republicans will try all the usual methods of attacking Democrats and Democratic policies and programs. Democrats can show that it’s time for the wealthiest of Americans and Corporations to prove they love and appreciate America by helping to rebuild the country.

[PortTack]

8. ☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️

[WarGamer]

11. I've said this before.

Joe needs to do a fireside chat and let it go like this...

"The CoronaVirus cost our nation dearly in not only the lives of Americans and decimated families but at least $4T dollars. The United States has always been a country that pays our Bills and we aren't going to become a deadbeat country now. I'm asking the wealthy and the corporations to pay their share, in recognition of the special free and open markets that have been provided for them to become fantastically successful and wealthy. I'm proposing a one-time 5% Wealth Tax on all net worth over $750k and a nationwide VAT tax of .05% for 10 years with a monthly allowance for low income families to pay it. We're raising the 39.6% rate (don't call it the 37% rate) to 45% and for the next 10 years, we'll tax Capital Gains as regular income. Thanks and Good Night."


THAT is how you get shit done in the country.

[Baked Potato]

16. I really like that! Especially the not becoming a "deadbeat" country part.

[politruk]

24. Would a wealth tax be constitutional?

Serious question. There's no express grant of that power in the Constitution or any amendment.

[BumRushDaShow]

26. This is what the Constitution says

Article I

(snip)

Section 8.

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/articlei

[WarGamer]

28. Depends on how the law is written.

Call it what you want, I'm sure they can get the cash out of the tight SOB's pockets.

[Deminpenn]

9. It will pass

Manchin is on board with infrastructure and also supports a tax increase. 400k and above won't touch many Americans and making sure Amazon and other huge companies pay a minimum tax is extraordinarly popular with Americans.

[WarGamer]

12. Who pays increased Corporate taxation?

Wink wink...

I hope there's a way to NOT ALLOW the Corporations just to raise consumer pricing to counter the higher taxes.

Don't think, for ONE moment that Exxon is just going to swallow the new taxation without passing it along in the price of gasoline.

[Doremus]

13. But the market is self correcting, no? That's what the pukes tell us.

If company A raises prices higher than company B, people will buy from B. If A wants to sell more, they'll cut their profit a little. If both companies collude on pricing, that's a different kettle of fish and there's already a fix for it.

[WarGamer]

14. I don't worry about collusion.

Companies function for the purpose of profit for the shareholders. Fact.

So... if you make $100B a year in profits and the new taxes drop the profit down to $50B, they will find the extra $50B somewhere else.

So they raise prices. Either that... or the share price of the stock tanks. Profits will be maintained.

We must be creative... get the cash and protect the consumer

[Doremus]

19. Back in the dark ages, there was a thing called Business Ethics. It used to be a required class.

That aside, yes, profits are the purpose. But the market corrects itself, or so we are told by foaming rightwingers. If a corporation raises its prices too high, folks will flock to alternate sources to buy. No?

[WarGamer]

22. Markets only correct when there are variables.

For example, increase the tax of every company that starts with an "E"... people will avoid products from "E" and buy from "A, C, L and F"

But across the board Corporate tax increases won't do that.

The only exception might be... if foreign companies export a product here but isn't taxed here.

So... and American made widget might cost 2x more than a Chinese made widget. I thought we were trying to avoid that?

You didn't really just combine the words "Business" and "Ethics", right?

Fact is, consumers pay for Corporate taxes and if consumers don't... shareholders do.

Figuring out how to protect consumers and shareholders AND squeeze money out of the Corporations is above my pay grade but I'm sure it can be done.

[Sugarcoated]

27. This is what I keep hearing from Qpubs

on social media.

[WarGamer]

29. IN this case, it's true

Corporations are not charities.

Corporations are an entity broken down into millions of little pieces called "shares".

The Corporation has, as it's first responsibility, to take care of the shareholders and this means attaining and maintaining a profit.

They will do whatever necessary to maintain profitability.

They will cut their workforce, they will reduce compensation and they will raise the price of their product to the consumer.

These are facts. Business 101, basic Macroeconomics.

This is why we must be creative about how to get a piece of that pie as it MUST be done.

But thanks for the backsided dig calling me a GOP'er...

[Sugarcoated]

30. Say what?

Wasn't saying or insinuating that.

[WarGamer]

10. It's going to go through the DC limbo

Compromise, backscratch... rinse and repeat.

The way it appears today will not be passed.

But some version WILL be passed.

I'm keeping an eye on DEM politicians to see how supportive they are of taxes with their donors looking over their shoulders.

TAX THE RICH NOW.

[LanternWaste]

15. I'd wager 1 in 3 as it stands.

Increase that to 2 in 3 if/when it gets watered down and pork-filled.

[Hortensis]

17. Basically the whole thing with some negotiated changes. nt

[Doremus]

18. For the first time in 20 years I'm confident that this and other progressive bills will pass.

Biden has proved so far that he understands what's at stake and that the middle class and the country sink or swim depending on what he can manage to accomplish in the hostile environment known as the Senate.

I think he knows he has to end the fillibuster and that he will make it happen. Time will tell.

[Stinky The Clown]

21. I think there is a better than even chance he will get it.

And if he does, he is on his way to US greatness

[Blue_true]

23. If Manchin is open to it, that makes passage more possible.

The bill will have to have good things for West Virginia, which isn’t a bad idea.

I would like to see resources for inner cities and majority Black counties across the country, things like sewer and water systems need major updating.

[The Magistrate]

25. It's A Big Pot O' Money, Sir

I expect that will bring everybody we need along....

[Progressive Jones]

31. Manchin's state needs this bill -- badly. I say he delivers. nt