Will Marshall, President of the Progressive Policy Institute, released the following statement in reaction to President Biden’s announcement of a deal on the Build Back Better framework and imminent vote on the bipartisan infrastructure package:
“President Biden today unveiled a revised Build Back Better framework that better reflects his party’s diverse coalition, and he urged Democratic lawmakers to proceed to a vote on his bipartisan infrastructure bill.
“PPI applauds the president’s diligent efforts to forge a new consensus behind a more balanced and realistic reconciliation bill. While we are concerned that the new framework tries to do too much with too little, we believe all progressives need to compromise to help President Biden deliver on his core commitments to working Americans.
“We call on the House Progressive Caucus to stop threatening to vote down the president’s infrastructure bill. They have been heard for months and many of their demands have found their way into the new framework.
“The new $1.8 trillion framework in important respects resembles one PPI published earlier this month as a pragmatic alternative to the left’s $3.5 trillion wish list. Our package cost just under $2 trillion, with roughly half the money focused on helping working families, one third on combatting climate change and the remainder being used to cover the uninsured and lower premiums for those with health insurance.
“Unfortunately, many of these core priorities are cut short because the new White House framework tries to enact too many programs on a temporary basis instead of prioritizing a few robust and transformative initiatives. We think many of these programs merit further study and deliberation and that they should be taken up in subsequent legislation rather than depriving core initiatives of permanent funding in the current bill. We also have serious concerns about whether the tax policies included in the framework will actually produce enough revenue to fully pay for the spending, particularly if all these ostensibly temporary programs are eventually extended or made permanent.
“As the framework is translated into legislative language, we hope to see further refinements aimed at allaying such concerns. In the meantime, we commend President Biden for patiently brokering the compromises necessary to get his Build Back Better bills across the finish line. Together with the American Rescue Plan, they would have a transformative impact on American jobs, innovation and competitiveness, and would ensure a more inclusive economic recovery that helps those hit hardest by the pandemic.
“It’s past time to stop debating and take the first step by passing the bipartisan infrastructure bill.”
Earlier this month, the Progressive Policy Institute released a focused blueprint for delivering on President Biden’s promise to Build Back Better while addressing the concerns of moderates who cannot support $3.5 trillion of new spending. The report, titled “Reconciling with Reality: The top priorities for building back better,” outlines a bold plan to deliver on three urgent priorities of the Democratic party within the confines of a roughly $2 trillion bill: supporting working families, combating climate change, and expanding access to affordable health care for those in need. Read it here.
The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) is a catalyst for policy innovation and political reform based in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to create radically pragmatic ideas for moving America beyond ideological and partisan deadlock. Learn more about PPI by visiting progressivepolicy.org.
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