Senate is now voting on the $3.5 Trillion Bill on a precedure to begin debate

[Johnny2X2X]

This is for all of the marbles so to speak. Will take some time and Manchin is going to get his pound of flesh, but this could pass this week too.

[drray23]

1. yes I trust Schumer and Biden

to know how to steer this thru.
I had concerns about the fact that the moderate dems may say, see we passed the bipartisan bill without removing filibuster and that proves we don't need to get rid of it but obviously Schumer, Biden and Pelosi have a plan for that.

[lagomorph777]

2. That would be amazing. Then can we please save democracy?

Saving democracy would be pretty cool.

[FoxNewsSucks]

13. t sure would.

I'd like to get some nice things and keep them for a change.

And send a lot of criminals to jail. That would be cool too.

[Johnny2X2X]

3. Manchin and Sinema already Ayes!!!

Debate will happen, then it gets dicey and I know Manchin has targeted some of the environmental parts of the bill for removal, but this has got an excellent chance to pass.

And also, this proceed to debate is what Liberal Dems in the house said they'd need to see before passing the $1.2 Trillion infrastructure deal.

This is happening, America is being transformed, the middle class is being rebuilt.

[drray23]

4. they both had said (Manchin/Sinema) that they would vote to allow debate.

so its not a surprise. As you say, the real beef is how they all agree to the final product.

[Johnny2X2X]

5. Oh yeah, this isn't a slam dunk

But it's probably 90% going to happen. Dems are working this masterfully from a PR perspective.

Make no mistake, this Bill is a laundry list of liberal wish list items, it will be the most important piece of legislation since the Great Depression. But Dems are smart to pass the bipartisan infrastructure deal first to take some headlines, and Cuomo resigning will make this more passable. Republicans are going to pitch a fit, letting the media ignore them because of the infrastructure and Cuomo stories will allow it to pass more quietly.

This Budget Bill is Bernie Sanders baby, if it passes, I don't want to hear another peep from Berners about Biden and the Dems not being far left enough.

[Tom Rinaldo]

9. Fair enough...

"This Budget Bill is Bernie Sanders baby, if it passes, I don't want to hear another peep from Berners about Biden and the Dems not being far left enough."

But if it passes I don't want to her another peep from non-Berners about Sanders not being supportive enough of Biden's agenda.

[Johnny2X2X]

11. Agree

Bernie has been a great ally to Biden in the Senate, he's been extremely supportive. The riff between Biden and Sanders Democrats is not large, and it's mostly been mended, but watch for some to try to keep the riff going. And Nina Brown was used to try to widen any gaps that exist, she needs to go away. Bernie himself will be out championing this bill if it passes, that should carry a ton of weight.

[Tom Rinaldo]

20. We see all this pretty much the same

[Calculating]

6. The middle class is being rebuilt?

More like crushed by inflation, Gas is up like 80% over a year. I'm practically losing 2 hours out of every paycheck to the higher gas prices, everything is costing more, and I sure haven't got any raises lately. Housing prices are going up faster every year than the entirety of my yearly pay, car prices are through the roof, food and meat prices are up, etc. All of our houses are getting bought up by big corporations who are trying to turn us into a nation of renters.

[Johnny2X2X]

7. Inflation right now isn't real

And gas prices are not part of inflation because they're controlled by OPEC and too volatile. Inflation is not a long term concern of the Fed as they know comparing this year's prices to last year's pandemic prices is producing skewed numbers. Give it a few months and inflation won't even be a newsworthy item anymore.

[Amishman]

22. I disagree on inflation

The tight labor market is not going to relax, nor will the supply disruptions caused by covid's resurgence. Both will drive up prices, and sustain inflation.

That being said, I see prolonged moderate (3-5%) inflation as very possible, but not high or runaway inflation.

[Johnny2X2X]

23. 3-3.5% is prjected

But the Fed will do everything they can to get that closer to 2%. Regardless, 3-4% inflation is barely even newsworthy, but inflation has been so low for so long it will be somewhat noticeable.

And the Covid restrictions and business closures last year actually led to deflation.

Inflation is basically going to return to more normal. 3% is more normal than 1 %. No one should really even pay attention if it's less than 4%.

[SoonerPride]

10. This sounds like Fox News spin.

Sorry, but I don't buy it.

[Calculating]

24. Fox news spin?

These are my real experiences, not some kind of propaganda. Worrying about inflation isn't some kind of spin or talking point. Local Rent and housing prices have gone bonkers lately, we're paying 70 cents above the national average on gas, prices in the stores and for online goods are all up. I'm not making any more money and everything is costing 10-30% more than it did two years ago.

[honest.abe]

8. OMG.. there is hope!

[Nictuku]

12. This is a vote to begin debate?

... aka a cloture vote? (i.e. requires 60 votes?) Currently there are 50 Yes and 49 No - to begin debate (I think that is what this vote is, I missed the beginning of it).

So this is not the reconciliation process, right? If that is correct there is no chance of it passing with the 60 vote requirement, and so then I think it is an attempt to allow bi-partisanship. But if the republicans won't even vote to allow debate, it pretty much ties the hands of the Democrats to pursue Reconciliation. But they will be able to say they attempted to allow bi-partisanship.

The question then will be, will all Democrats tow the line, or will they let their donors influence them to make a no vote with the reconciliation process.

[honest.abe]

14. Only need 50 votes. (corrected)

Because its a budget resolution and 1 R MIA.

[Johnny2X2X]

15. Only needs 50, because 1 Rep is a no show this week

Yes, you are correct, it only needs a simple majority because it's a budget bill is my understanding too and will be part of reconciliation.

[honest.abe]

17. Yep, I just realized that and updated by post.

[Nictuku]

16. Thank you!

That is good to know. So it stands now at 50 Yes, 49 No so it is essentially passed (if VP Harris needs to break a tie, she can).

I can't tell how many of the votes are repub or dem (they don't show that in the Senate). I wonder who has not voted yet. Are any Senators ill and unable to vote right now? Or are any of them out fundraising (instead of doing their jobs?)

[honest.abe]

18. Actually only need 50 votes... see johnny's post upstream

[Johnny2X2X]

19. There's one GOP senator out

It's 50-49 along party lines 100%.

[Johnny2X2X]

21. Bernie is spitting truth right now!!!

"republicans must be in shock that the President and the Senate are moving forward with helping the working class..."

AWESOME!!!

[Johnny2X2X]

25. Amendments already being voted on

Looks like they're going to accept some Republican amendments to this, so that's good, this is looking like it will pass tomorrow.