Biden’s Build Back Better in the Face of Senate Obstacles

The fight for President Biden’s Build Back Better social spending bill is just beginning.

After months of wrangling, the $ 2 trillion budget-buster passed the House on Friday by a slim vote of 220-213.

But in the Senate, Democrats are bracing for a fierce battle over a bill that some party members have hailed as a 21st century New Deal that will spend billions on education, the environment, housing and healthcare. health.

“The House bill will most likely get a Senate haircut,” a Capitol Hill insider told The Post. “Negotiations are now laser-focused, with members discussing the things they want, the things they want to tweak and those things they just want. “

Democrats expect to go it alone in the equally divided 50-50 Senate, the insider said, as the GOP firmly opposes it.

“Not a single Republican will vote for this bill,” House minority whip Steve Scalise (R-La) told Fox News on Saturday.

Normally, bills need 60 votes to overcome the Senate obstruction rule that ends debate on a measure. Without GOP support, Schumer will have to rely on a process known as reconciliation, a special exception for budget legislation that allows passage with a simple majority in the Senate.

But the strict rules of the reconciliation process mean that Home’s version of Build Back Better is going to undergo major changes.

Reconciliation can only be used on bills that are budget neutral, that is, that will not increase the federal deficit over a ten-year period.

That’s why Build Back Better includes $ 80 billion for tighter enforcement by the IRS – and why the Congressional Budget Office’s finding that it will add $ 367 billion to debt will force the Senate to do some work of major edition.

Probably on the chopping block: The sharp increase in the state and local tax cap (SALT), allowing wealthy taxpayers to deduct more from their federal returns – at an estimated cost of $ 285 billion, according to the Committee for a Federal Budget responsible – as well as with paid family leave and universal preschool.

In addition, the Senate’s “Byrd rule” means that no “foreign matter” is allowed in a bill that passes under the rules of reconciliation: only expenditure and revenue items are allowed.

It could remove some of the House’s most expensive provisions – like an immigration overhaul that would grant 10-year parole to millions of illegal immigrants. The Senate parliamentarian will ultimately decide which parts of the House bill can remain.

The debate will take weeks, with all of Congress now back home for a week’s Thanksgiving vacation.

“Christmas could be the 5-meter line,” the insider predicted, with a final vote before New Years Eve.

“It’s the Waterford balloon or bust,” he said.

What’s in it, what’s in Biden’s Build Back Better

In BBB:

Climate programs: up to $ 570 billion in tax and spending credits, including $ 144 billion for renewable electricity, $ 7.5 billion for charging stations for electric vehicles and a credit of $ 7,500 for electric motorcycles

Childcare: $ 382 billion for a new childcare right program and a universal preschool for 3 and 4 year olds

Paid vacation: $ 206 billion for four weeks of federally funded family and sick leave

Child tax credit: $ 203 billion for a one-year extension of $ 250 per child checks for most families

Home care: $ 150 billion for home caregivers

Medicaid and other health care: $ 165 billion for Obamacare subsidies, hearing benefits and drug cost caps

Lodging: $ 148 billion for social housing, rent assistance and new tax credits

Education: $ 39.8 billion for Pell Grants, Funding for Minority Colleges, and Grants for Illegal Immigrants

Tax application: $ 80 billion to expand IRS and hire 80,000 new agents

Society taxes: 814 billion dollars

Individual taxes: $ 655 billion over those earning $ 10 million or more

Excluding BBB

Free community college

Medicare dental and vision coverage