Virginia Sen. Kaine: "Congressional Democrats hurt Terry McAuliffe"

[Celerity]

58. If we remove the leverage and pass the BIF, and then Manchin ends up blocking the BBB or shredding

it even more we are fucked in 2022 and 2024. I have even seen some on here ludicrously posit that not passing the BBB will have no negative impact on the midterms, that the BIF alone, without the BBB is more than enough to kick off another Blue Wave, lolol.

The BIF is almost all long term, giant projects that will have very little impact on individuals before the midterms. The BBB is the opposite of that. The new spend from the BIF is only $55 billion per annum. That is less than 1% of the federal monies spent in 2020.

Your stance on the two bills is not only courting disaster, but is also not going to happen. You and the others in the 'pass the BIF now with no strings attached' chorus lost that debate long ago, and rightly so. Manchin and Sinema's actions over the past half year or so only strengthen the 'keep them linked' side's arguments, and weaken yours.

The majority of Congressional Dems do not trust Manchin, and rightly so. Just today he came out with a new demand, that being the removal of hearing aids from the BBB's Medicare expansion. He already had dental and vision pulled. He is pissing all over Biden's agenda. Your tactical wish would only empower him more. Hard pass.