Bipartisan Infrastructure/3.5T Reconciliation/Gov Funding/Debt Ceiling (1 Viewer)

[coldseat]

Thought it would be good to have a place to discuss all the drama on Capitol Hill and whether Democrats will get any of this signed. Given that Republican have abandoned any responsibility of doing anything for the good of country it's on Dems to fund the government and raise the debt ceiling. But as with the reconciliation bill, moderates are opposing this.

I'm really trying hard to understand why Manchin and Sinema are making the reconciliation bill process so difficult and how they think that benefits them? As far as I can see, all it's doing is raising the ire of the majority of democrats towards them. It's been well known for a long time now that both the Infrastructure bill and reconciliation bill were tied together. They worked so hard to get and "Bipartisan" Infrastructure bill together (because it was oh so important to them to work together) and passed in the Senate, but now want to slow drag and bulk on the reconciliation bill (by not being able to negotiate with members of their own party)? There by, Putting both bills passage at risk and tanking both the Biden agenda and any hope of winning Congress in 2022? Make it make sense!

I suspect they'll get it done in the end because the implication of failure are really bad. But why make it so dysfunctional?

The drama and diplomacy are set to intensify over the next 24 hours, as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) scrambles to keep her fractious, narrow majority intact and send the first of two major economic initiatives to Biden’s desk. In a sign of the stakes, the president even canceled a planned Wednesday trip to Chicago so that he could stay in Washington and attempt to spare his agenda from collapse.
Democrats generally support the infrastructure package, which proposes major new investments in the country’s aging roads, bridges, pipes, ports and Internet connections. But the bill has become a critical political bargaining chip for liberal-leaning lawmakers, who have threatened to scuttle it to preserve the breadth of a second, roughly $3.5 trillion economic package.
What is in and out of the bipartisan infrastructure bill?
That latter proposal aims to expand Medicare, invest new sums to combat climate change, offer free prekindergarten and community college to all students and extend new aid to low-income families — all financed through taxes increases on wealthy Americans and corporations. Liberals fear it is likely to be slashed in scope dramatically by moderates, including Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) and Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.), unless they hold up the infrastructure package the duo helped negotiate — leading to the stalemate that plagues the party on the eve of the House vote.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/09/29/biden-pelosi-democrats-infrastructure/

 

[GrandAdmiral]

Why has insulin gotten so expensive? Apparently there are only the companies making it: Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi.

When Biden's DOJ is finished with the Trump monkey trial and not prosecuting Hunter for his grift, maybe they'll have some free time to go after them for collusion and price fixing. And in the meantime, Biden could sign an EO tomorrow to reduce the regulatory red tape that prevents anyone else from getting in the market. Insulin is not a patented medication.

But that might actually help the problem. The Dems want a campaign issue, not a solution!

At one point in time when I became a diabetic over 30 years ago, Novo was considered the genetic manufacturer of insulin. Medicare and Medicaid wouldn't cover Humulin (made by Eli Lilly). But collusion abound and now, every time their patents get close to running out, they put an additive here and there that allows the patent to extend. Then they raise prices again all in the name of innovation.

A 3-month supply of insulin costs me $2,400 WITH insurance. Only good thing about that is that my plan has a $4,000 out-of-pocket max. So that and my other diabetes supplies takes care of me by February.

And note, my insulin isn't elective. I'm dead in less than a week without it.

 

[MT15]

Why has insulin gotten so expensive? Apparently there are only the companies making it: Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi.

When Biden's DOJ is finished with the Trump monkey trial and not prosecuting Hunter for his grift, maybe they'll have some free time to go after them for collusion and price fixing. And in the meantime, Biden could sign an EO tomorrow to reduce the regulatory red tape that prevents anyone else from getting in the market. Insulin is not a patented medication.

But that might actually help the problem. The Dems want a campaign issue, not a solution!

This is just embarrassing spin. Democrats just had a complete solution that would actually help diabetics all over the country, and Republicans killed it. So you manage to blame Democrats? Your credibility is totally gone, you’re obviously a complete partisan and not a serious person here.

 

[Bolo]

Yep, doesn't surprise me. Scumbags voted against common sense Insulin caps.

 

[eman623]

This is just embarrassing spin. Democrats just had a complete solution that would actually help diabetics all over the country, and Republicans killed it. So you manage to blame Democrats? Your credibility is totally gone, you’re obviously a complete partisan and not a serious person here.

Since you think my credibility is gone, there's no need for me to read any more of your posts. Ignore is my friend.

 

[eman623]

At one point in time when I became a diabetic over 30 years ago, Novo was considered the genetic manufacturer of insulin. Medicare and Medicaid wouldn't cover Humulin (made by Eli Lilly). But collusion abound and now, every time their patents get close to running out, they put an additive here and there that allows the patent to extend. Then they raise prices again all in the name of innovation.

A 3-month supply of insulin costs me $2,400 WITH insurance. Only good thing about that is that my plan has a $4,000 out-of-pocket max. So that and my other diabetes supplies takes care of me by February.

And note, my insulin isn't elective. I'm dead in less than a week without it.

Talk to your doctor and let him or her know about the high copays you are facing. Medicare already caps insulin copays, at least basic non-additive insulin which is fine.

 

[cuddlemonkey]

Talk to your doctor and let him or her know about the high copays you are facing. Medicare already caps insulin copays, at least basic non-additive insulin which is fine.

Could have been the same for private insurance as well, but a bunch of Republicans decided that they don't care enough to help their fellow Americans.

 

[MT15]

Could have been the same for private insurance as well, but a bunch of Republicans decided that they don't care enough to help their fellow Americans.

The Medicare caps on insulin he is talking about were done in an EO by Trump, and apply to very, very few seniors. The new bill will cap insulin for all seniors on Medicare, and would have applied to everyone except for R opposition.

 

[cuddlemonkey]

The Medicare caps on insulin he is talking about were done in an EO by Trump, and apply to very, very few seniors. The new bill will cap insulin for all seniors on Medicare, and would have applied to everyone except for R opposition.

That's the part I was referring to, yeah.

 

[RebSaint]

I'm dead in less than a week without it.

Well, you know, being "pro life" has its limitations.

 

[GrandAdmiral]

Well, you know, being "pro life" has its limitations.

Tell me about it.

 

[J-DONK]

I don't think much is going to happen. I have a very dim view of all this. I think the administration tried to apply some pressure, and that's when he floated leaving the party. My personal opinion is that's the current situation. It's the reason why Kamala isn't pushing him by going directly to WV again. Manchin is essentially a Reagan era Republican right down the welfare queen ideology.

I hope I'm wrong, but I'm only holding out hope that we see some movement on student loans, and weed via executive action closer to the midterms. That's it.

I just want to revisit my old post, and point out how wrong I was. I'm shocked, and impressed by the way the Democrats have delivered. Also, a big thank you to Manchin, and Sinema for not being their normal selves.

 

[SaulGoodmanEsq]

Why has insulin gotten so expensive? Apparently there are only the companies making it: Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi.

When Biden's DOJ is finished with the Trump monkey trial and not prosecuting Hunter for his grift, maybe they'll have some free time to go after them for collusion and price fixing. And in the meantime, Biden could sign an EO tomorrow to reduce the regulatory red tape that prevents anyone else from getting in the market. Insulin is not a patented medication.

But that might actually help the problem. The Dems want a campaign issue, not a solution!

If you're wondering why people have labeled you a partisan hack, look no further than this post.

 

[zztop]

gee what a shocker

Sinema took Wall Street money while killing tax on investors

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, the Arizona Democrat who single-handedly thwarted her party’s longtime goal of raising taxes on wealthy investors, received nearly $1 million over the past year from private equity professionals, hedge fund managers and venture capitalists whose taxes would...

apnews.com

For years, Democrats have promised to raise taxes on such investors, who pay a significantly lower rate on their earnings than ordinary workers. But just as they closed in on that goal last week, Sinema forced a series of changes to her party’s $740 billion election-year spending package, eliminating a proposed “carried interest” tax increase on private equity earnings while securing a $35 billion exemption that will spare much of the industry from a separate tax increase other huge corporations now have to pay.

 

[Optimus Prime]

I was reading the comments of an article on this bill (can’t find or remember the article)

These climate change deniers are something else

They’re acting like a half a billion dollars was set aside to find Bigfoot and unicorns

 

[zztop]

oh look, a bunch of mediocre ideas

Speaker McCarthy unveils $1.5T debt bill, pushes toward vote

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has unveiled a sweeping package that would raise the nation’s debt limit by $1.5 trillion into next year. The Republican leader announced the bill Wednesday just as President Joe Biden was preparing to deliver a speech in Maryland. The 320-page package imposes a long...

apnews.com

The House GOP measure would also roll back elements of Biden’s signature Inflation Reduction Act — particularly the provisions that the White House and Democrats put in place to fight climate change — and halt money to the Internal Revenue Service that was designed to conduct audits of potential tax cheats.

Loading the bill up are other Republican priorities, including their marquee H.R. 1, a sweeping energy bill that aims to boost oil, gas and coal production while overhauling permitting regulations to ease such developments

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

oh look, a bunch of mediocre ideas

Speaker McCarthy unveils $1.5T debt bill, pushes toward vote

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has unveiled a sweeping package that would raise the nation’s debt limit by $1.5 trillion into next year. The Republican leader announced the bill Wednesday just as President Joe Biden was preparing to deliver a speech in Maryland. The 320-page package imposes a long...

apnews.com

The House GOP measure would also roll back elements of Biden’s signature Inflation Reduction Act — particularly the provisions that the White House and Democrats put in place to fight climate change — and halt money to the Internal Revenue Service that was designed to conduct audits of potential tax cheats.

Loading the bill up are other Republican priorities, including their marquee H.R. 1, a sweeping energy bill that aims to boost oil, gas and coal production while overhauling permitting regulations to ease such developments

This Republican party would have us all on steam engines if they were in power back in the day. Why stop trying to upgrade from fossil fuels? Do they feel that fossil fuels are the peak of human ingenuity?

 

[bird]

This Republican party would have us all on steam engines if they were in power back in the day. Why stop trying to upgrade from fossil fuels? Do they feel that fossil fuels are the peak of human ingenuity?

Nah, but they do feel fossil fuels are the peak of political dark money.

 

[zztop]

House Republicans pass US debt bill, push Biden on spending

House Republicans have narrowly passed a sweeping debt ceiling package as they try to push President Biden into negotiations on federal spending. It's the start of efforts to avoid a potentially catastrophic government debt default this summer. Biden has threatened to veto the bill over the...

apnews.com

In exchange for raising the debt limit by $1.5 trillion into 2024, the bill would roll back overall federal spending and:

— Claw back unspent COVID-19 funds.

— Impose tougher work requirements for recipients of food stamps and other government aid.

— Halt Biden’s plans to forgive up to $20,000 in student loans and

— End many of the landmark renewable energy tax breaks Biden signed into law last year. It would tack on a sweeping Republican bill to boost oil, gas and coal production.