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Nation’s infrastructure maintenance
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[b]GOP Lawmaker who Voted for Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan Receives Death Threat[/b][/h1]
Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) [link=https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/08/politics/fred-upton-infrastructure-bill-voicemail-threat-cnntv/index.html]told CNN[/link] that he received a threatening voicemail after voting for the bipartisan infrastructure bill.
Said the message: I hope everybody in your f*cking family dies.
The caller added that the Republican lawmaker was a fucking piece of shit traitor.-
[link=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/581434-trump-slams-mcconnell-says-senator-should-attend-biden-signing-ceremony][color=”#2b2c30″]Trump slams McConnell, says senator should attend Biden [/color]Infrastructure[color=”#2b2c30″] signing ceremony[/color][/link]
[color=”#2b2c30″]
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Mitch McConnell has stated that he will not go to the signing of the Non-Infrastructure Bill (only 11% for real Infrastructure) or, as it is sometimes called, the Elect Democrats in 2022/24 Act, Trump said in a statement.
Based on the fact that the Old Crow convinced many Republican Senators to vote for the Bill, greatly jeopardizing their chance of winning re-election, and that he led the way, he should go to the signing and put up with the scorn from Great Republican Patriots that are already lambasting him, he added.
McConnell said he would not go to the signing ceremony because he has other things I’ve got to do.
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Portman was on stage and praises Trump for starting the talk about infrastructure. What a world we live in.
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Quote from DICOM_Dan
Portman was on stage and praises Trump for starting the talk about infrastructure. What a world we live in.
Well, Trump was sure talking about infrastructure, so much is correct. Never got anything done on that front, but he talked about it.
Portman isn’t running for anything, why would he care about the trumpist contingent.-
Yet he was clearly playing to an audience of Trump.
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I think Portman is just providing a political roadmap for other Republicans who want to tout support of the bill.
It’s a common sense “Look, Trump wanted this. Biden wanted this. It’s good for everyone,” approach.
If more Republicans message this way, maybe it would decrease the number of death threats other GOP elected official get from their own constituents. (Or maybe not … the GOP grassroots has gone insane)
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Quote from dergon
I think Portman is just providing a political roadmap for other Republicans who want to tout support of the bill.
It’s a common sense “Look, Trump wanted this. Biden wanted this. It’s good for everyone,” approach.
If more Republicans message this way, maybe it would decrease the number of death threats other GOP elected official get from their own constituents. (Or maybe not … the GOP grassroots has gone insane)
I think it’s more wrenched up than even that. Cause Trump from what i’ve seen appears to be going after anyone republican who voted for it.
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Looks like Pelosi trying to get the House to pass Build Back Better this afternoon.
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[h1][b]CBO Estimate Released for Budget Reconciliation Bill[/b][/h1]
The [link=https://www.cbo.gov/publication/57627]CBO estimate[/link] of the Build Back Better Act finds that enacting this legislation would result in a net increase in the deficit totaling $367 billion over the 2022-2031 period, not counting any additional revenue that may be generated by additional funding for tax enforcement.
The White House had previously estimated that enhanced IRS enforcement would generate $400 billion over the same time period.
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Kevin McCarthy delays passage of BBB with record-length floor speech.
During the speech McCarthy says “No one elected Biden to be FDR”
shout from AOC: “I did!”
________
Anyway, should pass the House today.
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There are times I DO like AOC very much!
Fuggit Kevin!-
220-213, all Democratic votes for (except for 1 … Jared Golden of Maine). Off to the Senate where Manchin gets to express his Opinion
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Well the CBO report shows they estimate minimal increase in deficit over 10 years especially if since they did not calculate positive results into the calculation. And that’s not even about climate and renewables jobs increases. But then that’s complicated and nuanced. Too much for a bumper sticker to explain.
We’ll see if Manchin’s goal was always to sink it.-
No. Manchin wants to set himself apart but he has no interest in tanking Biden
Sinema is my concern because her intermittent opposition doesnt seemed grounded in any policy so she might just say eff it and vote no just for the chaos
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Both sides of their mouths policies of the Republicans, biting the hand that feeds them while insisting on taking the money from said hand.
“I stand opposed to Democrat profligate spending but praise me for getting you money to build on infrastructure in our state. Oh, and also to finance our tax cuts!”
Amazing what you can do if you have the balls to speak out of both sides of you mouths and you have very ignorant constituents who spit while they have their hands out.
[link=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/15/us/politics/biden-stimulus-bill-republicans.html]https://www.nytimes.com/2…-bill-republicans.html[/link]
The Treasury Department gave states broad discretion over how the stimulus money can be deployed, but imposed limits on using funds to shore up public pension programs and restricted states from using relief funds to subsidize tax cuts. The tax cut prohibition angered several Republican governors, who argued it infringed on state sovereignty, and has led to a thicket of lawsuits.
Among those challenging the restriction is Ohio, which was awarded nearly $5.4 billion of state aid through the American Rescue Plan. [b]Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, opposed the entire package and, after it passed, his state took a leading role in litigation contending it was unlawful to put conditions on the relief money that prohibited states from using it to finance tax cuts.[/b][b]Republican leaders across the country have been engaged in a similarly awkward dance over the past few months as they accept and often champion money from [link=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/06/us/politics/stimulus-bill-usa.html]the $350 billion bucket of state and local aid[/link] included in the stimulus bill, which passed Congress without a single Republican vote. In some states, like Ohio and Arizona, Republican governors are spending the funds while attempting to undercut the law that allowed the money to flow. Other governors are faulting Congress for not giving their state enough money.[/b]
And, like their counterparts in Congress, many Republicans have [link=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/18/business/economy/fed-inflation-stimulus-biden.html]blasted Mr. Bidens stimulus bill for fueling inflation[/link], even as they take the funds, and criticized Democrats for pushing for additional government spending plans.At her annual budget address this month, Gov. Kristi Noem, Republican of South Dakota, blamed President Bidens economic policies for rising prices, derided the giant handout of federal stimulus funds and suggested that she had considered refusing the money over ideological objections.
But like many Republican officials, Ms. Noem has found it hard to say no to her states share of the $1.9 trillion pandemic relief aid that Democrats [link=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/10/us/politics/whats-in-covid-bill.html]passed along party lines[/link] in March.
Ms. Noem explained to fellow legislators how critical those federal funds were to South Dakota and outlined how she would use some of the nearly $1 billion slated for her state to invest in local water projects, make housing more affordable and build new day care centers.
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Pelosi will keep the House in DC until BBB is passed. No recess.
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3 trillion debt over 10 years if programs dont expire – which is what Dems actually want and will likely be reality.
As we all know, once you give something to someone for free, you can’t take it back.
How can you guys support 3 trillion more debt?
Or do you just not care about the debt?
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As Reagan proved, deficits dont matter! Noted by prominent Republicans.
Its about investing in people & the country & infrastructure, its not about more revenue cuts.-
So you dont care about adding 3 trillion to the debt then?
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If it goes to tax cuts and tax cut relief, yes, deeply because that’s a waste of money. But the $ is supposed to go for the country’s investment in hings we haven’t invested in since Reagan when the Republicans decided nothing mattered more than tax cuts and revenue cuts in order to sarve the beast. The middle class and poorer have suffered since as we’ve had 40 years of failed Republican solutions leading us to “can’t do” thinking, the actual purpose behind Republican deficits.
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Quote from Cubsfan10
So you dont care about adding 3 trillion to the debt then?
My question to you is the universal opposition to the infrastructure bill and spending, you therefore do not support all the Republican governors and politicians tripping over themselves in get as much $ as possible from that $3 trillion in order to brag to their constituents what they’ve got from Washington for their states? Correct?
Meaning they should not partake of any of the monies in order to do their best to keep the Federal spending down, correct? And you support that refusal? -
Quote from Cubsfan10
So you dont care about adding 3 trillion to the debt then?
And for the sake of accuracy, the infrastructure bill will not add definitively to the debt per the CBO’s analysis.
[link=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/05/infrastructure-plan-cbo-says-senate-bill-would-add-to-budget-deficits.html]https://www.cnbc.com/2021…o-budget-deficits.html[/link]-
Dont be an idiot seriously.
They did the math on 10 years of the programs and not the gimmicks of sunsets and it adds 3 trillion.
Also I assume you’re a human that has lived in this world for years so pray tell me one time a government program didnt cost even more than they projected and one time a welfade program that gave away something for free was rescinded.
If you honestly believe you can pass that bill and it cost nothing then we are done ever conversing because you live on another plane of existence I’ll call frumiland and that place has no basis in the reality the rest of us live in.
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Ah, lets analyze a non-existent thing & open the stops. Oh surprise, the cost is much higher on the make believe program over the real one.
Alternate facts are so useful for making decisions.
Last I read it was $5 trillion. Now its reduced to 3 trillion? That growing nose getting in the way?
Who is the idiot?-
Manchin officially a NO on BBB.
Sounds final.
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It’s not make believe when it’s the true agenda you want and you know it. That’s why you’re mad.
Do you truly want to have universal pre-K for 3 years only or forever?
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I’m not mad. I am disappointed.
And I remain of the opinion that permanent is better than temporary but temporary is better than not at all. Live to fight again and see if it can be extended. – But it’s dead now… at least until 2025 at the earliest, maybe forever.
( ps — probably also means Manchin switches parties some time between now and 2024.)
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Sorry that was to frumi!
Your response is reasonable and in a reasonable world I could even accept it.
The issue is that nothing seems to be temporary and shady crap happens all the time to skirt rules to get what you want.
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Pour moi?
Sorry to disappoint you but anyone who though Manchin was going to support BBB is frankly not paying attention. Manchin was never going to stick his neck out to support this “pro-Democratic” bill regardless of any benefit it gave to WV, as if pre-school was so attractive to West Virginia? Maybe as babysitting time while Mom & Dad made a trip to get their Oxy?
And Clean Energy? Neither West Virginians or Manchin want that. People believe coal is the once and future king of energy and jobs and Manchin’s investments are very deeply involved in coal and fossil fuels. He’s not about to divest and disinvest from them for clean energy. Improve healthcare and education? Not for “Obamacare!” regardless of its good.
And as for education? From the horses mouth, as J.D.Vance described in his book, [i]Hillbilly Elegy[/i],” people in WV are suspicious of people with an education.
Government policy may be powerless to resolve other problems in our community. As
a child, I associated accomplishments in school with femininity. Manliness meant strength,
courage, a willingness to fight, and, later, success with girls. Boys who got good
grades were sissies or ****gots. I dont know where I got this feeling. Certainly
not from Mamaw, who demanded good grades, nor from Papaw. But it was there, and studies
now show that working-class boys like me do much worse in school because they view schoolwork
as a feminine endeavor. Can you change this with a new law or program? Probably not.
Some scales arent that amenable to the proverbial thumb.There is pride in ignorance!
In other words, there is nothing in the BBB that West Virginians view as important. Manchin is certainly no Profiles In Courage candidate going against the Trumpist tide in his state.
And this takes Sinema off the hot seat too.
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And yes, I’d not be surprised if Manchin changes party before 2024, possibly after 2022. He’s waiting for a nice offer from the Republicans should they win the midterms. Otherwise now, he’s in the catbird’s seat.
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Yeah it’s fine. Like I said if BBB is as popular as all the Dems say it is then they will win majorities in 2022 and then be able to pass it right?
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Maybe. After 40 years of Republican policies all we have to show are massive deficits from 40 years of tax cuts, 20 years of wars over imaginary WMD’s and failure to bring religious fanatics into the 21st century and an insurrection to overturn an election, and state election laws to guarantee Republicans win regardless of how voters vote, etc.
Great score.
Between the 2, I’ll try investing in the country for a change.-
Right. Well, if that agenda is what people want then I’ll be happy to have it voted in properly after Dems win in 2022. Democracy at work and all that.
Sounds fair to you right?-
That depends if you still believe in elections where the voters decide who the winner is, not the politicians of a party. It’s what we’ve done for 220+ years, yes, excepting the Civil War? And present attempts.
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Quote from dergon
I’m not mad. I am disappointed.
And I remain of the opinion that permanent is better than temporary but temporary is better than not at all. Live to fight again and see if it can be extended. – But it’s dead now… at least until 2025 at the earliest, maybe forever.
( ps — probably also means Manchin switches parties some time between now and 2024.)
I think the progressives were as strategic as possible– the “temporary” tactic was the best chance to get these programs started, and they held out as long as possible on the infrastructure bill.
After everyone vents for a while (I’m sure there are progressives on Twitter right now furiously promising a primary challenge to Manchin, which is amusing) I think they try again with a smaller bill. Just b/c you couldn’t get everything doesn’t mean you can’t do something. And they will want to do something before the midterms. Impotent rage isn’t going to do much to help them hold congress.
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I mean the reality is that they tried to pass one of the most expansive Leftist bills with a 50/50 Senate, a few vote majority in the house, and a president underwater on approval.
They set themselves up for failure.
But hey if it’s as popular as they say and everyone wants it then Dems will build majorities in 2022 and be able to pass it right?
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I see. So what you’re saying is that BBB is super popular, so if the Dems don’t win majorities in 2022, then the voting was rigged?
Do I have that right?-
Manchin did it dirty too. Strung everyone along. Presented his own plan. Put the knife in slowly.
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Quote from DICOM_Dan
Manchin did it dirty too. Strung everyone along. Presented his own plan. Put the knife in slowly.
Just stating the obvious here, but without him Mitch McConnell would be majority leader. WV isn’t electing another Democratic Senator, much less someone like Elizabeth Warren.
The Democrats can, and I’m confident will, regroup, prioritize parts of the BBB (which parts will be a huge intraparty argument), and pass something significant before the midterm elections. If Manchin weren’t there they would have exactly zero chance of doing that.
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… and judges.
To any of my friends who say “anchin might as well become a Republican then” (and there were a lot today) …. “and judges”-
Quote from dergon
… and judges.
To any of my friends who say “anchin might as well become a Republican then” (and there were a lot today) …. “and judges”
Exactly. Manchin may not be the Democrat you want, but WV went +(something big) for Trump. He’s way better than any realistic alternative.-
I think he is plotting to leave the party
Most likely independent
But wouldnt be surprised if he went republican
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Quote from Chirorad84
I think he is plotting to leave the party
Most likely independent
But wouldnt be surprised if he went republican
Republican would be the only way for him to hold on to power (and that is all that matters). In a threeway race between the mayor of Charleston, a Trumplican and Manchin as an independent, the Trumplican will win.
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Quote from BHE
The Democrats can, and I’m confident will, regroup, prioritize parts of the BBB (which parts will be a huge intraparty argument), and pass something significant before the midterm elections. If Manchin weren’t there they would have exactly zero chance of doing that.
True.
But it all has to be one bill b/c they’re using reconciliation. So it’s one package … we’ll see.
I don’t know what’s in Manchin’s mind, but I kind of agree with Axelrod’s take —
“Im not saying Sen Joe Manchin set out to undermine [link=https://twitter.com/POTUS]POTUS[/link] and Democrats. But if that were his plan, Im not sure he would have done one thing differently.”
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[h1][b]Goldman Cuts Economic Growth Forecast as BBB Dies[/b][/h1]
Goldman Sachs cut its forecast for U.S. economic growth after Senator Joe Manchin rejected the Biden administrations roughly $2 trillion tax-and-spend program, leaving Democrats with few options for reviving the economic agenda, [link=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-20/goldman-cuts-u-s-gdp-forecast-after-manchin-won-t-back-bill]Bloomberg[/link] reports.
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Quote from dergon
[h1][b]Goldman Cuts Economic Growth Forecast as BBB Dies[/b][/h1]
Goldman Sachs cut its forecast for U.S. economic growth after Senator Joe Manchin rejected the Biden administrations roughly $2 trillion tax-and-spend program, leaving Democrats with few options for reviving the economic agenda, [link=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-20/goldman-cuts-u-s-gdp-forecast-after-manchin-won-t-back-bill]Bloomberg[/link] reports.
Pretty much universally panned by economists as a blatant political move.
They know that with two trillion being lit on fire, there are billions they can skim off at every level. They can smell the money and are going to do whatever it takes to shake it loose.
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Agree fw. Skimming off billions is something GS thrives at.
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Public service announcement:
[h1][b]Yes, Joe Manchin Is a Democrat[/b][/h1]
[link=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-12-21/what-s-next-for-the-democrats-big-bill?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=211221&utm_campaign=author_18529680]Jonathan Bernstein[/link]: As for Manchin, theres a lot of nonsense out there about him not really being a Democrat. I have my criticisms of the [link=https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/biden-congress-votes/]FiveThirtyEight data[/link] on presidential support, but the basics are clear: Manchin votes with other Democrats, and with Bidens position, all the time. And theres a significant gap between the most conservative Democrat and the most liberal Republican.
With a Republican in Manchins seat, even in the unlikely event that the replacement was a moderate, Democrats would not have passed their major Covid-relief bill earlier in the year, and would have no chance for even a slimmed-down version of Build Back Better. Of course, if Manchins seat was held by a Republican, Mitch McConnell would be the Senate majority leader, and Democratic legislation along with most judicial and executive-branch nominations wouldnt get to the floor for a vote anyway.
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Manchin plays both sides of the fence. His family has also profited mightily while WV is about as poor as it gets.
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NYT with a good article on a ridiculous tax loophole.
Understand that a big piece of the compensation at startups is in the form of stock options, and while making $10M/person tax free for Elon Musk/Larry Page etc doesn’t sound all that bad (although read the article, it’s usually a lot more than $10M cap), make up to $10M tax free for every early employee, their spouse, kids, etc, and it’s a lot. Also, for the VCs it’s huge b/c they can do it for each and every company they fund.
Totally insane. Does absolutely nothing to incentivize people to start high-risk companies. I put this one in the same bucket as the carried interest exemption: completely indefensible, and yet it persists.
Hoping this brings enough attention to the issue that the Dems get rid of it. But, I expect lobbyists will keep it in there.
[link=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/28/business/tax-break-qualified-small-business-stock.html]https://www.nytimes.com/2…ll-business-stock.html[/link]-
Need someone to explain all this to me. The BBB will cause inflation because of the government spending $10 trillion over 10 years even though it is at least partially if not primarily paid for. But Afghanistan alone cost $14 trillion in 20 years using ALL borrowed money, yet no worries about inflation. & lets throw in Iraq war costs for good measure. Inflation causes from the pandemic are dismissed for short supply and high demand. So whats the takeaway here? Only social spending causes inflation? Worst of all, social spending on non-affluent people causes inflation?
Whats missing?
[link=https://www.wsj.com/articles/who-won-in-afghanistan-private-contractors-troops-withdrawal-war-pentagon-11640988154?mod=hp_lead_pos7]https://www.wsj.com/articles/who-won-in-afghanistan-private-contractors-troops-withdrawal-war-pentagon-11640988154[/link]
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The trillions that cause inflation are the last ones in. It doesnt really matter if they are paid for or doing something important in the world. The cost and amount of monetary supply is what matters to inflation. Thats why the only way to bring it down once rolling along is the pain of decreased supply and interest rates. Sure to cause a recession. Best to avoid throwing trillions of more dollars into the pot.
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Or a more simple answer. Because the trillions in Afghanistan didnt and the next trillions will. The dollars dont care what they are used for.
It is disappointing how the first in were used.-
Manchin back to negotiating on BBB
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He must believe that the other Democrats are realizing too much spending is not a great idea right now. See the inflation thread. A much smaller package has a shot? Thats just my initial reaction though. Ill wait to see what shows up.
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Quote from Thread Killer
He must believe that the other Democrats are realizing too much spending is not a great idea right now. See the inflation thread. A much smaller package has a shot? Thats just my initial reaction though. Ill wait to see what shows up.
He already said that he was open to a package that is actually scaled back. Pelosis answer was a package unchanged in size with some accounting tricks applied to make it look smaller on paper. Once the people who want to get something done push past her dishonesty, there will be a 1.5T package with Manchins support.
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Youre good dergon! I wish more of the Dems had your pragmatism.
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Quote from fw
Quote from Thread Killer
He must believe that the other Democrats are realizing too much spending is not a great idea right now. See the inflation thread. A much smaller package has a shot? Thats just my initial reaction though. Ill wait to see what shows up.
He already said that he was open to a package that is actually scaled back. Pelosis answer was a package unchanged in size with some accounting tricks applied to make it look smaller on paper. Once the people who want to get something done push past her dishonesty, there will be a 1.5T package with Manchins support.
The reason Manchin said no is because the 1.5T package is the same 3.6T package as before. They kept all the same programs just added “sunsets” that will never happen in reality. Then, the CBO extended everything to 10 years and showed it’s actually 6T.
Functionally (what we will all pay in taxes until we die) is the 1.5T = 6T
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Curious to see how this turns out. Shortly after Manchin finally said no, there was a lot of talk of “ok, they’ll have to prioritize etc to actually get it down to a level he will support”. But then I read some interviews with progressives who were not backing down and still thought they could pressure him to cave.
All I’ll say is, they know a lot more than I do about what’s going on.
Also just a rumor I’m sure, but read something about AOC considering running against Schumer for Senate in 2022? In any case, he probably has to protect his left flank. Expect that to have a big influence on him.
Overly interesting times. -
Schumer would eat her lunch. She has been given a gift of a crazy leftist district without having any qualifications or intelligence. She should stay where she is unless she wants an early retirement.
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She actually has a dual degree in economics and international relations from Boston University
Thats probably a little tougher than your Caribbean medical degree
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what is qualified? I’d rather have new people in with zero experience who want to serve than the prevailing political class that’s been there forever. People like Mitch/Pelosi/Shumer have all the experience in the world at lying, cheating, stealing, self dealing in order to stay in power. If that’s experience give me AOC instead.
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Quote from Chirorad84
She actually has a dual degree in economics and international relations from Boston University
BU should ask for that piece of paper back. -
Qualification? Its an election. Only votes matter. She got the vast majority of the vote running as a democratic socialist in a heavily democratic district. Very different than running in a state wide election against another democratic.
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Quote from Cubsfan10
Schumer would eat her lunch. She has been given a gift of a crazy leftist district without having any qualifications or intelligence. She should stay where she is unless she wants an early retirement.
Ah, Da Bronx and Queens are the new San Francisco.
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Oops. The response seemed so dergon like to me. You too fw although Im pretty sure you arent a dem.
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Well the Pelosi lying part wasnt very dergon like I suppose
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Idk where this Caribbean nonsense came from, especially from a chiropractor.
But yes as TK said, no way she wins a state-wide anything. One debate and shes done. She cant even think or speak logically about anything.
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I bet Chiropractors schools are better than your Caribbean med school degree
Not much but better
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I think AOC would have a pretty decent shot at Senate from NY. I don’t think she can take out Schumer … he’s got a pretty strong lock on the Dem party and is in pretty good shape with his constituents.
But AOC taking on Gillibrand in 2024? Sure. I could see it and I could see her winning the D primary.
And with NY at D+12 or something and seeming to trend bluer by the year during a high turnout Presidential election year, she’d likely win the general too even if she spooked some moderates. (NY hasn’t elected a statewide Republican in a good long time)-
What you gave to realize is this is New York not Indiana or Tennessee
She can most definitely win
Taking on Schumer though probably would not be smart
She is young and would be better off mentoring with him
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I think dergon and chiro are right. She can definitely win if she is taking on a Republican. Probably not Schumer.
But heres the question. The one Hillary is asking. What does this do for prospects of taking back Congress if it is not a net positive for the Dems? Many are afraid of what it means.
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Assuming the Dems lose it in 2022.
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What is “It” in that question?
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I think we need some tangible action that defeats the GOP talking points about how much worse things are with Biden. It wouldn’t help if somehow inflation slowed down too. We’ve got this $1T Infrastructure bill. Let the shovels get to work. If he wanted to do something to win over some GOP voters he should get high speed internet into as many rural areas as possible. Brought to you by the democratic politicians.
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Dergon. It is hold of congress. I used the words win it back. Of course that would require they lose it first
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And the senate win by AOC. One Dem for another. But a Dem seen as much more left.
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Quote from DICOM_Dan
I think we need some tangible action that defeats the GOP talking points about how much worse things are with Biden. It wouldn’t help if somehow inflation slowed down too. We’ve got this $1T Infrastructure bill. Let the shovels get to work. If he wanted to do something to win over some GOP voters he should get high speed internet into as many rural areas as possible. Brought to you by the democratic politicians.
Let’s re-pave the roads that were prematurely repaved under the porkulus bill in 2009. It has been 10 years and traffic needs some snarling.
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There’s plenty of fixing and upgrading to do.
Fix the Brent Spence bridge that connects I71-I75 over the Ohio River. It cannot handle the volume of traffic and is in bad shape. When that bridge gets jammed up it creates delays in commerce as it carries a whole lot of trucks. It’s something that needs done and has direct benefit to US Commerce.
How about upgrade airports so we’re not worried about AT&T rolling out 5G?
Pull some wires to rural America for high speed internet. or put some cell towers in and lease them to companies.
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Quote from DICOM_Dan
There’s plenty of fixing and upgrading to do.
Fix the Brent Spence bridge that connects I71-I75 over the Ohio River. It cannot handle the volume of traffic and is in bad shape. When that bridge gets jammed up it creates delays in commerce as it carries a whole lot of trucks. It’s something that needs done and has direct benefit to US Commerce.
That one is easy. Suspend the Davis Bacon act, suspend the need for an EIA on replacement projects. Hire American Bridge or any other design-build contractor to build a replacement. Then drop the old bridge into the river. 12 month project, soup to nuts.
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I don’t think we need to do things at the expense of the environment. I think you can do it fast and do it cleanly. That’s not to drop the corroded and greasy bridge into the river. You can build one or even two right next to it. Then just divert traffic onto the new ones when they open.
The Army Corp of engineers stopped Niagra falls. We’ve gone to the moon. Be bold. LFG. -
Interesting ways some cities and states are spending their COVID relief money to help their residents. Golf courses, prisons, all kinds of infrastructure needs being addressed. And yet, somehow, as these citizens are riding around on their links or admiring the new prisons, enjoying gas tax holidays, they will not give Washington credit but complain as usual that Washington is doing nothing to help them!
[link=https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2022/01/21/coronavirus-stimulus-spending-waste/]https://www.washingtonpos…imulus-spending-waste/[/link]More than 160 sprawling golf courses already dot the area around Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., a sunny hub for the sport that serves as a home base for the countrys professional league.
But the 115-acre, 18-hole expanse that could soon become the citys next outpost is slated to have a key feature that sets it apart from the rest: Its construction is set to benefit from more than $2 million in federal coronavirus aid.
The spending in Florida counts among thousands of new investments nationwide, as cities and states look to spend their portions of a generous, $350 billion stimulus initiative. Democrats in Congress approved the local windfall as part of the [link=https://www.washingtonpost.com/context/the-american-rescue-plan-act-of-2021/c67656e4-bef9-4789-8ca4-396903b94387/?itid=lk_inline_manual_5]American Rescue Plan[/link] last spring, hoping to give cash-strapped governments a boost in fighting the pandemic and bringing their economies back to life.
Alabama [link=http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/ALISON/SearchableInstruments/2021FS/PrintFiles/HB5-enr.pdf]approved[/link] $400 million to rebuild a state prison. Florida hopes to tap $1 billion in federal money to help pay for a gas-tax holiday. And Indiana lawmakers allowed the states economic development agency to spend $3 million on a gate-expansion program at the Fort Wayne International Airport.So it was the case that Palm Beach Gardens, a city of 50,000 along Floridas eastern coast, ended up last fall devoting roughly $2 million in stimulus cash toward its latest golf course. Not a single member of the community objected in September, when local leaders convened to give the green light to their spending plans for the year ahead.
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My bet is that Manchin will preserve his money from fossil fuel investments & business
For years, burly men in camouflage hunting jackets have been a constant presence in the Capitol Hill office of Senator Joe Manchin III, their United Mine Workers logos giving away their mission: to lobby not only for the interests of coal, but also on more personal matters such as pensions, health care and funding to address black lung disease.
So when the miners union and the West Virginia A.F.L.-C.I.O. came out last month with [link=https://umwa.org/news-media/press/umwa-statement-on-build-back-better-legislation/]statements[/link] pleading for passage of President Bidens Build Back Better Act just hours after [link=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/19/us/politics/manchin-build-back-better.html]Mr. Manchin, Democrat of West Virginia, said he was a no[/link] the Capitol took notice.We urge Senator Manchin to revisit his opposition to this legislation and work with his colleagues to pass something that will help keep coal miners working and have a meaningful impact on our members, their families and their communities, Cecil E. Roberts, the president of the United Mine Workers of America, or U.M.W.A., said in a statement just before Christmas.
But Mr. Manchin has also long been allied with [link=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/20/us/politics/manchin-climate-change-coal.html]the coal industry[/link]. His own family has profited from waste coal from abandoned mines, which the Manchins sell to a polluting power plant in his home state. And Mr. Manchin has received more campaign donations from the oil, coal and gas industries than any other senator in the current election cycle.
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[link=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/01/28/pittsburgh-bridge-collapse/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=wp_politics]Pittsburgh bridge collapses on day Biden to visit city to talk infrastructure[/link]
A bridge on a major artery in Pittsburgh collapsed this morningjust in time for Bidens visit to Pennsylvania.Thankfully it happened before rush hour.
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There is a reason infrastructure gets bipartisan support.
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Quote from dergon
[link=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/01/28/pittsburgh-bridge-collapse/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=wp_politics]Pittsburgh bridge collapses on day Biden to visit city to talk infrastructure[/link]
A bridge on a major artery in Pittsburgh collapsed this morningjust in time for Bidens visit to Pennsylvania.
Thankfully it happened before rush hour.
Bridge had been listed as ‘decrepit’ since 2009.
Wouldn’t it be great to have an infrastructure bill that actually put money into you know ‘infrastructure’ rather than a wholesale overhaul of the social benefits system ?
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Yes. We have one of those. Biden’s trip to PA is about the bill that already passed.
[link=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-pittsburgh-push-infrastructure-improvements-local-bridge-collapses/story?id=82532407]https://abcnews.go.com/Po…pses/story?id=82532407[/link]
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Perfect opportunity to talk about what drives me crazy in political discussion. Just stick with what is popular for now. Got bipartisan support for a bill? Take it. Trying to use that as leverage for another less popular plan is atrocious. It’s why people are fed up with politicians from every party.
Then to hear the strategy championed by someone who would link a young girl speaking at a school board meeting to Nazi Germany is just sad. All is fair in politics I guess.
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[h1][b]Manchin Says Remains of BBB Must Go Through Committees[/b][/h1]
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) on Sunday said elements from the Democrats social spending and climate package must go through the committee process if the party wants to pass initiatives from the bill, [link=https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/593039-manchin-spending-elements-must-go-through-committee-process]The Hill[/link] reports.
Said Manchin: My biggest concern and my biggest opposition, it did not go through the process.
He added: These are major changes. It is going to change society as we know it And those changes, there should be a hearing. There should be a markup. And then youre going to have a better product, whether your friends on the other side vote for it or not. But they have to have input.
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[b]Manchin Lays Out a Bill He Can Support[/b][/h1]
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) laid out a basic party-line package that could win his vote, lower the deficit and enact some new programs, provided they are permanently funded, [link=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/02/joe-manchin-democrat-bill-taxes-00013246]Politico[/link] reports.
It may be Democrats best and last chance to get at least some of their biggest domestic priorities done before the midterm elections, but would require everyone in the party particularly liberals to concede that whats possible doesnt come close to the $1.7 trillion package Manchin spurned in December.
Manchin said that if Democrats want to cut a deal on a party-line bill using the budget process to circumvent a Republican filibuster, they need to start with prescription drug savings and tax reform. He envisions whatever revenue they can wring out of that as split evenly between reducing the federal deficit and inflation, on the one hand, and enacting new climate and social programs, on the other to the point where its sustainable.’-
Pragmatist?
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Manchin? No.
The people who recognize that he holds all the cards and get what they can get? Yes-
Oops. Yes, pragmatism.
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from your lips to god’s ears …
[link=https://www.eenews.net/articles/sources-manchin-ready-to-engage-on-reconciliation/]https://www.eenews.net/ar…age-on-reconciliation/[/link]
[h1][b]Sources: Manchin ready to engage on reconciliation[/b][/h1]
Four of these sources said text is now being passed around, though one person described it as pencil to paper to underscore that new legislative language was still in its most nebulous early stages.
Its not clear what is currently on or off the table. While at one point Manchin was expressing interest in moving the $550 billion climate portion of the original, $1.7 trillion package, he has since said Russias war in Ukraine underscores the need to pursue a broader all of the above energy policy that includes increased domestic oil and gas production on public lands ([link=https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eenews/2022/03/18/what-manchins-fossil-fuel-kick-means-for-climate-legislation-00018317][i]E&E Daily[/i][/link], March 18).
Further clouding the outlook and the prospects for reaching an agreement one source in the environmental advocacy community said they had been told that the Energy and Natural Resources Committees draft portion of the Build Back Better Act, released in mid-December, was no longer the starting point for negotiations on the climate section of a smaller reconciliation bill.[/QUOTE]
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Engage is the key word. Hes clearly making this about his interests. Wont be much left of BBB with his method of engagement.
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[h1][b]Manchin Launches New Push for Spending Bill[/b][/h1]
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) has restarted talks with fellow Democrats about reviving the partys climate and social spending bill, as administration officials search for oil and gas policies that could make the measure more palatable to him, the [link=https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/03/24/manchin-build-back-better-climate/?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=wp_news_alert_revere&location=alert&wpmk=1&wpisrc=al_politics__alert-politics&pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJjb29raWVuYW1lIjoid3BfY3J0aWQiLCJpc3MiOiJDYXJ0YSIsImNvb2tpZXZhbHVlIjoiNTk2Y2U0M2ZhZGU0ZTI0MTE5ZDhkMjU0IiwidGFnIjoid3BfbmV3c19hbGVydF9yZXZlcmUiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy53YXNoaW5ndG9ucG9zdC5jb20vY2xpbWF0ZS1lbnZpcm9ubWVudC8yMDIyLzAzLzI0L21hbmNoaW4tYnVpbGQtYmFjay1iZXR0ZXItY2xpbWF0ZS8_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1hbGVydCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj13cF9uZXdzX2FsZXJ0X3JldmVyZSZsb2NhdGlvbj1hbGVydCZ3cG1rPTEmd3Bpc3JjPWFsX3BvbGl0aWNzX19hbGVydC1wb2xpdGljcyJ9.knPX8fV-dLO2Pj1QjLJk3d_i0PMm6in4rUIFtZM_hqw]Washington Post[/link] reports.
Manchin, who has traveled in the past week with Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, has told staff members and colleagues that the legislation must be voted on before senators leave town in August.
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