Dems divided, duking it out over $3.5 trillion budget

Sep 17, 2021

By Straight Arrow News

Democratic Senator Joe Machin came out against the president’s $3.5 trillion spending bill this week. A departure from celebrating bipartisanship in August agreeing on the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill. “This is something we should be proud of, this was a give and take proposition. no one got what they wanted everyone got what they needed,” said the senator from West Virginia.

At the time, it seemed like smooth sailing for Democrats. However, one month later, Manchin appears to be sinking his own party’s ship.

Much of this stems from a September Wall Street Journal op-ed, in which Manchin said he won’t vote for the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill, “without greater clarity about why Congress chooses to ignore the serious effects of inflation and debt have on existing government programs.”

Now, Democrats find themselves pitted against themselves, progressives versus moderates, Sen. Bernie Sanders against Manchin, who is being accused of stabbing fellow party members in the back.

MSNBC’s Joy Reid address the issue on her show, saying, “It’s a fact of life that Kindergarteners know – a deal is supposed to be a deal.”

Meanwhile, Republicans get to sit back and watch it unfold before them, as the $3.5 trillion budget is a reconciliation, meaning if Democrats agree, it will pass without any Republican votes.

Human infrastructure is the sticking point. Traditionally, infrastructure includes things like roads, bridges, railroads and ports. While Human infrastructure addresses issues, like expanding Medicare, free community college, national paid family leave and extending child tax credits

Traditional versus human infrastructure is at the core of the Democratic divide.

“I happen to think Manchin is right, physical infrastructure is terribly important, but I happen to think the needs of the human beings of our country – working families, the children, the elderly, the poor are even more important,” Senate Sanders explained during an interview with ABC’s This Week.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, while more of a moderate, has spoken highly of the women’s issues that are rolled up in the human infrastructure.

While Pelosi might be third in line to the Oval Office, it’s Manchin who now holds the keys to the castle, telling his colleagues they can’t have all those things if they can’t pay for them.

“No one is concerned without debt- do you know our debut Friday was 27.5 trillion dollars,” Manchin said during an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash.

Annie Andersen: Back in August Democratic Senator Joe Machin celebrated bipartisan infrastructure bill on the Senate Floor

Sen. Joe Manchin: This is something we should be proud of, this was a give and take proposition. no one got what they wanted everyone got what they needed.)

Annie Andersen: At the time, it seemed like smooth sailing for Democrats.

But one month later – Manchin is sinking his own party’s ship/

Much of this stems from a September Wall Street Journal op-ed, in which Manchin said he won’t vote for the $3.5 trillion infrastructure bill –without greater clarity about why Congress chooses to ignore the serious effects of inflation and debt have on existing government programs.

So now Dems find themselves pitted against Democrats – Progressives vs. Moderates, Bernie vs Manchin, who’s being accused of stabbing fellow party members in the back.

Joy Reid It’s a fact of life that Kindergarteners know – a deal is supposed to be a deal

Annie Andersen: And what about Republicans?

They are probably sitting back and laughing…

The 3.5 trillion is a reconciliation bill.

Meaning if the Democrats all agree to it, Republicans don’t even need to vote.

Another reason this is so painful for the left.

Joe Reid: Democrats would vote for the paired down bipartisan infrastructure bill … :as long as they can advance human infrastructure deal that can be passed with out the needs for Republicans…. Republicans went home and crowed about getting their roads and bridges/… and what did progressive get???

Annie Andersen: That’s the 3.5 trillion-dollar question?

It comes down to human infrastructure – different from the traditional physical infrastructure that was agreed upon in the bipartisan bill.

Traditional infrastructure includes things like roads, bridges, railroads.

While Human infrastructure includes like expanding medicare, free community college, national paid family leave and extending child tax credits

Traditional vs Human infrastructure is at the core of the Dem Democratic Divide.

Sen. Bernie Sanders: I happen to think Manchin is right, physical; infrastructure is terribly important, but I happen to think the needs of the human beings of our country – working families, the children, the elderly, the poor are even more important.

Annie Andersen: House Speaker Pelosi, while more of a moderate, is a big fan of the women’s issues that are rolled up in the human infrastructure

Speaker Nancy Pelosi: “women see this as transformative…so spectacular.”

Annie Andersen: But it’s Machin who now holds the keys to the castle saying…. you can’t have all those things if you can’t pay for them.

Sen. Joe Manchin: (“No one is concerned without debt- do you know our debut Friday was 27.5 trillion dollars)

Annie:

So what do you think?

Are Democrats their own worst enemy right now?

And what about the need for human infrastructure compared to traditional infrastructure?

Let me know in the comments below….