WASHINGTON – Top United States Senate Democrats yesterday agreed on a US$3.5 trillion (RM14.7 trillion) package to implement Joe Biden’s vast plans to fund climate initiatives, health insurance and human infrastructure programmes, like childcare, social welfare and housing.
The huge proposal will direct federal funds to a sweeping array of projects over the coming decade that the president has outlined as his top priorities, but which have encountered fierce pushback from opposition Republicans.
All 11 Democrats on the Senate Budget Committee emerged from an evening meeting with Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer to announce they have decided on a budget number.
“Tonight, the Senate Budget Committee reached an agreement on a fully paid-for US$3.5 trillion top-line budget that includes funding for climate, education, Medicare expansion, family programmes and more,” tweeted Senator Mark Warner.
Schumer added to reporters: “Every major programme that President Biden has asked us for is funded in a robust way.”
The Democrats’ aim is to turn the agreement into a budget resolution that, if it is able to clear both chambers of Congress, will allow lawmakers to enact the massive spending legislation without assistance from Republicans.
A budget resolution allows the Democrats, who narrowly control the Senate, to circumvent filibuster blocking tactics that otherwise require 60 votes to overcome in the 100-seat chamber, rather than a simple majority.
The Democrats used the same procedural move in March to pass Biden’s US$1.9 trillion pandemic relief package.
The agreement follows weeks of haggling between the White House, party leaders, progressives and moderates to make a once-in-a-generation investment in the US.
Details on the sweeping plan, which the Democrats argue is among the largest such funding efforts in decades, were not released.
The Democratic blueprint also comes as lawmakers put the finishing touches to a nearly US$1 trillion bipartisan deal focusing on more traditional infrastructure, like roads, bridges and ports.
Lawmakers have scrambled to finalise the bipartisan deal, and the larger Democratic measure that is on a parallel track, in the coming weeks before Congress breaks for the summer.
But, the Republicans yesterday made clear that they are not impressed with the latest Democratic plan.
“US$3.5 trillion in new spending is US$3.5 trillion too much and US$3.5 trillion we don’t have,” said Senator Mike Lee. – AFP, July 14, 2021
