Biden's underrated deal-making prowess strikes again
By Jennifer Rubin
President Biden’s capacity to overperform after an onslaught of negative press and Democratic hand-wringing is second to none. He did it with the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, NATO solidification and expansion, and now with the debt ceiling deal. It’s hard to conceive of an outcome more favorable to Biden.
Recall where this began: the Republican House Freedom Caucus making promises such as repealing much of the Inflation Reduction Act (including eliminating $80 billion in new funds for the Internal Revenue Service), capping nondefense spending at fiscal 2022 levels for a decade and blocking Biden’s $400 billion proposed student debt relief. None of that happened.
When factoring in agreed-upon appropriations adjustments, the deal holds nondefense spending essentially flat in fiscal 2024 and increases it by 1 percent in fiscal 2025. According to White House aides, that’s a better outcome than a straight continuing resolution.
As for blocking $80 billion in new IRS funding — an expenditure Republicans had basically characterized as helping enlist an army of jackbooted thugs to knock down your door — the deal would repurpose $10 billion from fiscal 2024 and another $10 billion from fiscal 2025 appropriations, to be used in nondefense areas (further lessening the blow to nondefense discretionary programs).
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/05/30/biden-debt-limit-deal-making-skill/
Joe gave McCarthy a power wedgy. 
= new reply since forum marked as read
But I also give a lot of credit to PJB's awesome advisors - none of whom were born yesterday. Take a bow, Janet Yellen. The House Dem leaders are also among the best ever assembled. So let's give credit to the entire Democratic TEAM, OK?
These folks are kickin' ass!
