United States: Biden’s social spending plan halved to rally Democrats

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US President Joe Biden on Thursday announced the new outlines of his social and environmental spending plan, the amount of which has been halved to gain the support of all Democrats. Congress will be called upon to pass this decade-long $ 1.7 trillion bill “as quickly as possible”.

Joe Biden announced, Thursday October 28, before his departure for Europe, the new contours of his social and environmental spending plan, presented as “historic” even if the amount was halved to obtain the support of all fringes of the Democratic Party.

“After months of difficult and intense negotiations, we have a framework agreement which I believe can be adopted,” he tweeted before going to Congress himself.

“President Biden is convinced that this is a framework that can be adopted by both houses of Congress, and he is eager to sign it,” said the White House, eager to obtain a political victory after months of tension over funding the “Build Back Better” plan to reform America.


Pass this bill “as quickly as possible”

The American president also wishes to present to his international partners, in Italy for the G20 as in Glasgow (Scotland) for the COP26, the image of the United States committed to the energy transition and growth, as well as in the fight against social inequalities and tax evasion.

Joe Biden will thus call on Thursday the Congress to adopt “as quickly as possible” this bill amounting to 1,750 billion dollars over ten years, that is to say half less than the initial project.

Congress must also validate a second plan of some 1,000 billion dollars intended to modernize the country’s infrastructure.

“The president thinks that the (new) framework will allow him to gain the support of the 50 Democratic senators and will have the approval of the House of Representatives,” said an official in his administration on condition of anonymity.

The White House points out that Joe Biden heard “comments from all parties” and “negotiated in good faith” with centrist Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, the leadership of Congress as well as a “wide range of members of Congress” .

The voices of Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema are essential for the passage of these plans, because the Democratic majority in the Senate is so thin that one dissonant voice is tantamount to a veto.

These two senators have hitherto obstructed, judging the amount too high and opposing the way to finance it, in particular by tax increases on companies or the wealthiest households.

Joe Biden joined Democrats on Capitol Hill Thursday morning for final talks.

Joe Biden and his administration have constantly emphasized the importance of these plans, arguing that the United States is losing its competitiveness and is a poor student among advanced countries, whether in education, environment or social safety net.

In a document detailing the measures, the White House notes that this plan would “save most American families more than half of their childcare expenses” and “will provide two years of free preschool for every 3 and 4 year old in America “.

Today, the majority of schools in the country do not welcome children before the age of five.

This plan also includes continuing child tax credits and expanding access to home care.

555 billion for the climate

Addressing the participants of the COP26, the White House emphasizes that the “Build Back Better” plan contains “the greatest (financial) effort to fight against climate change in American history”, ie $ 555 billion.

If adopted, this plan would dramatically reduce greenhouse gas pollution, “will reduce (it) consumers’ energy costs (…), create (it) hundreds of thousands of high-quality jobs and will advance environmental justice “.

It is an investment “unique (…) in history”, it targets buildings, transport, industry, electricity, agriculture and water.

“The framework will put the United States on the right track to meet its climate goals, achieving a 50 to 52 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 below 2005 levels.”

The White House maintains that this plan can be financed by “big profitable companies”.

The bill thus contains measures so that these companies “cannot reduce their tax bill to zero” and provides for provisions for millionaires and billionaires to put their hands more in the pot.

With AFP

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