Putting It Out Of Its Misery
The so-called “Build Back Better” bill seems dead; at least that’s the initial reaction following Sen. Joe Manchin’s statement yesterday saying no matter how hard he’s tried, he just can’t bring himself to vote for a bill that, in his words, “leaves our country even more vulnerable to the threats we face”. He also pointedly noted, “My Democratic colleagues in Washington are determined to dramatically reshape our society.”
Not much way to spin that, other than as a huge loss for the Biden Administration…which did not take the news well, based on the nasty statement they issued in response.
Normally, that would be the sign to abandon the huge bill and instead try for a series of separate, smaller bills–ones that would garner enough support. But the far left wing of the Democrat party is already upset, as evidenced by votes against anything other than the full broad sweeping societal changes they advocate. For them, half a loaf is not better than no loaf at all.
Pollster Scott Rasmussen notes that 92 percent of voters see inflation as a serious problem, and most agree with what Sen. Manchin said–that the BBB would have made things worse. Additionally, 57 percent of voters see inflation as a tax on the poor.
Would the massive bill have provided some good? Undoubtedly, but it was being weighed down by far too much baggage that was unpopular: payments to illegal immigrants, giving the IRS more access to personal and financial information, a tax credit for print journalists, weaker work requirements in order to get federal financial aid, a rapid transition to electric vehicles…the list goes on and on.
I’m sure some in D.C. won’t take Manchin’s no for an answer and keep pushing for this bloated bill. The question now is how many cooler heads will prevail in redrafting legislation that does have support…and how many will continue their all-or-nothing, my-way-or-the-highway approach to unpopular proposals.
