On Sunday, Senate Democrats passed comprehensive bills on taxes, health care, and the environment on a party-line vote, giving President Joe Biden and his program a big victory before the November elections.
The Senate approved the Inflation Reduction Act, which contains record investment in clean energy efforts, steps to lower the cost of prescription drugs, and a tax overhaul to make sure big businesses pay income taxes. Every Democrat voted in favor, while every Republican abstained. It will be put to a vote in the Democratic-run House, where it may pass as soon as this Friday.
Before the final vote, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, referred to the legislation as "the boldest climate package in U.S. history" and a "defining legislative feat of the 21st century" on the Senate floor. "To those of you who have lost faith that Congress can do big things, this bill is for you," he said.
After an exhausting overnight session of discussion, amendments, and negotiation, Vice President Kamala Harris gave the decisive vote in favor of the resolution. The "vote-a-rama," which lasted 15 hours and started at 11:30 p.m. finally passed after Harris' crucial vote.
The legislation was first negotiated by Schumer and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. It takes on a number of enduring liberal priorities. After a turbulent year of discussions among Democrats, the White House abandoned its loftier plans to broaden the social safety net in the Build Back Better package from the previous year.
In a statement released by the White House before the vote that commended Democrats for maintaining their unity, Biden stated, "I ran for President promising to make government work for working families again, and that is what this bill does - period." Making meaningful decisions nearly always involves making sacrifices.
Mitch McConnell, the leader of the minority party in the Senate and a Republican from Kentucky, had a different take on the $739 billion proposal that would increase taxes for some firms while cutting the deficit by roughly $100 billion over the next ten years. "Senate Democrats are misreading the American people's outrage as a mandate for yet another reckless taxing and spending spree." Democrats have already stolen from American households once through inflation, and their current plan is to steal from them once more.
The pharmaceutical industry has long opposed Medicare's ability to negotiate prescription drug prices. In addition, the bill would extend Affordable Care Act subsidies for an additional three years, until 2025.
