Sanders: Reconciliation Bill Will Not Add to the Debt, It’s All Going to Be Paid For
Manchin, Sinema's ongoing obstruction not responsible, Vermont independent says
As things begin to come down to the wire for Democrats, Sen Bernie Sanders has still been out front fighting to pass the $3.5 trillion Build Back Better Act that he led the way in putting together weeks ago — but now could be on the verge of defeat.
Even as they continue to struggle forward on funding the federal government beyond today — and enabling the government to pay its debts long-term — congressional Democrats are still scrambling to find a way to approve the $3.5 trillion Build Back Better Act alongside the scaled-back bipartisan infrastructure bill. Or even if approving that larger spending package remains possible.
This is in the face of complete Republican intransigence this week, as Senate Republicans all blocked Democratic efforts to pass measures aimed at avoiding a federal shutdown and raising the debt ceiling so that the government can continue to meet its past debts.
Republicans are doing so in anger over the Democrats' $3.5 trillion Build Back Better Act, which would fund much of Biden and the Democrats' domestic agenda — including the largest-ever federal investment in the fight against global climate change. That bill was to move through the Senate under a process known as “reconciliation,” which is immune to Republican filibustering.
Unless Democrats find some new way to prevail, the federal government will shut down at 11:59 pm Thursday in the midst of both a global pandemic and a struggling economy. Moreover, without action on the debt ceiling, the government for the first time will default, creating unprecedented economic instability.
Meanwhile, even as they try to make sense of those looming catastrophes, congressional Democrats are having now to consider whether to jettison the $3.5 trillion spending package and pass only the much-scaled back bipartisan infrastructure deal, which is an option leaving many progressives in fits.
A number of Democrats have continued to rise up in defense of fighting for the Build Back Better Act, but none more forcefully or consistently than the senator from Vermont, who is largely responsible for the legislation. Acting as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, Sanders earlier this summer began working with Democratic colleagues to put together legislation which could carry much of their domestic agenda.
And, even as opponents in his own caucus emerged — most notably, Sen Joe Manchin — Sanders has kept fighting.
And that includes ongoing appearances on television news programs, such as a Wednesday interview with CNN host Anderson Cooper.
Despite complaints about its supposed price tag, the bill is fully paid for and would not add to the federal budget deficit, Sanders emphasized.
“Well, you know, when you deal, Anderson, with the existential threat of climate, and the scientists tell us we have a handful of years in order to transform our energy system away from fossil fuel, that’s a high-wire act,” the Vermont independent said. “I think it is morally irresponsible, inconceivable that this country is not leading the world in cutting carbon emissions, and taking on the fossil fuel industry.
“And I should also add, as part of this whole thing, please understand that we are now taking on the pharmaceutical industry. They don’t want to see lower drug prices. The healthcare industry — they don’t want to see Medicare expanded,” the two-time presidential candidate added. “Taking on the fossil fuel industry. We’re taking on the very rich and their lobbyists who don’t want to pay more in taxes. This is a very consequential struggle. But at the end of the day, I think we’re going to win this.”
“We are going to have to come together”
Sanders also honestly expressed his frustration with those in his own Senate Democratic caucus — Manchin and Sen Kyrsten Sinema, of Arizona, who are also blocking progress.
“I think my frustration, Anderson, is not necessarily the views of Mr. Manchin or Ms. Sinema. It is that when you got 48 people on one side and the American people overwhelmingly on the same side, and one or two people on the other side, you know, it is not appropriate, I think, for those couple of people to slow down progress. They have a right to be heard. They have a right to, you know, get concessions. That’s what the process is,” Sanders said. “But, you know, any member of the Democratic caucus, myself, anybody else, I believe in a Medicare-for-All, single-payer program. I think the current healthcare system is dysfunctional. I could go to Chuck Schumer tomorrow and say, 'Chuck, I’m not voting for that bill unless you have Medicare-for-All,' but that’s not what the caucus wants. That would be irresponsible.
“So I think at the end of the day, we are going to have to come together, do what the American people want and tell the American people that, yes, this government is capable of standing up to powerful special interests and represent working — represent working families,” he added.
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