Faced with the possibility that Democrats could lose control of Congress in November’s midterm elections, the party is now looking to salvage what it can from the $2.2 trillion Build Back Better Act.
United States Senator from West VirginiaPresident Joe Biden speaks at his news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Jan. 19, 2022.
Biden endorsed the strategy during a news conference Wednesday, saying that he was “confident we can get pieces, big chunks” of the bill passed. “We don’t have another 10 years to wait,” Markey said. “We should take what Joe Manchin said, take the climate and clean-energy provisions in the package that have been largely worked through and financed, and take any other provisions in any other part of Build Back Better that have the votes, and put them together as a package.”Of the social programs that would not make the cut, Markey said, “that becomes the agenda that we run on in 2022 and 2024.
He described the climate provisions as “a far-left agenda" that is “opposed by every Republican in the Senate.” It would provide about $320 billion in tax credits for producers and buyers of wind, solar and nuclear power. Buyers of electric vehicles would receive up to $12,500 in tax credits. It would extend existing tax credits to lower costs for homeowners of installing solar panels, geothermal pumps and small wind turbines, covering up to 30% of the bills.
“Lots of the direct benefits of these tax credits already go to red states,” said Barry Rabe, a professor of political science and environmental policy at the University of Michigan. “We have seen major growth of wind and solar production in predominantly Republican states, such as Texas, Oklahoma and North Dakota. And these policies have had bipartisan support over time.”
Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, who often refers to himself as the “father” of the wind-energy-production tax credit, said he could support provisions in the bill that bolster wind and solar power but is opposed to sections that would help make electric vehicles more affordable. That would hurt his state’s ethanol industry, he said.“I don’t adhere to the alarmism of ‘we’re doomed and we’re doomed soon,’” Cramer said.
“Some of these other pieces — the health-care and prescription-drug proposals — are the most popular part of the package with voters,” said Celinda Lake, a Democratic strategist and pollster.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Joe Manchin Says Democrats ‘Starting From Scratch’ On Build Back BetterThe West Virginia Democrat once again refused to say whether he would support a child tax credit extension.
Read more »
Senate Democrats join Biden to pivot Build Back Better strategyA growing number of Senate Democrats are urging their colleagues to begin paring back the $1.75 trillion Build Back Better agenda to salvage what they can, abandoning hopes of the transformational to achieve the possible.
Read more »
Splitting up Biden's Build Back Better package could save Dems' climate agendaSplitting up Biden's Build Back Better package could save Democrats' climate agenda
Read more »
Biden 'not sure' enhanced child tax credit, free community college will stay in Build Back Better'There's two really big components that I feel strongly about that I'm not sure I can get in the package,' President Biden told reporters Wednesday.
Read more »
The Ordinary's Most Popular Acne Serum Is Finally Back — & It's Even BetterThe Ordinary's Salicylic Acid Solution is coming back — here's everything you need to know about how it can transform acne-prone skin, plus where to shop it.
Read more »
Better CEO Vishal Garg is back to head the company after controversyVishal Garg, the CEO of Better, is back to head the company from his leave of absence after firing 900 employees over Zoom
Read more »