Biden strikes stimulus deal with Senate Democrats

[comradebillyboy]

Senate Democrats and President Joe Biden settled a last-minute debate over Biden's $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill on Wednesday, choosing to keep federal unemployment benefit payments at $400 per week but narrow the phaseout of the measure's $1,400 stimulus checks.

The breakthrough comes just hours before debate kicks off on the bill, which Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said could start as soon as Wednesday night. One Senate Democratic aide said the chamber is now waiting only on official scores from the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation to confirm its bill doesn’t run afoul of the rules of budget reconciliation, the process that allows passage of the package with a simple majority.


Biden signed off on moderate Democrats' demand to phase out the checks more quickly, the aide said. The bill's $1,400 payments will now phase out completely at $80,000 per year for individuals and $160,000 for joint filers; the phase-outs will start at $75,000 and $150,000 respectively. But the bill will retain $400 in extra weekly unemployment payments through August rather than cut them to $300, as suggested by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).


In an interview, Manchin said he approves of the changes and doesn’t intend to offer an amendment to change them. Republicans are expected to offer their own similar amendment, however.

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/03/senate-push-covid-aid-bill-473261

“It’s going to be a good package that’s going to help an awful lot of people. And it’s targeted. The main thing is, it’s targeted to get to people in need,” Manchin said.

[Wounded Bear]

1. You should provide a link...and oh yeah, this stinks...

[comradebillyboy]

3. Link added. nt

[Hortensis]

41. Really? Why? Keeping unemployment at $400, with a tradeoff of less

at the top of the socioeconomic scale, says to me that our people have their priorities in order. All the Republicans are expected to vote against it.

There'll still be plenty of stimulus to spread around the neighborhoods people earning upward of $100K a year tend to live in, help keep those service workers employed.

[comradebillyboy]

2. And Pelosi says:

When asked about the compromise, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, “We’re interested in seeing the total package when it comes over. So far, so good.“

The breakthrough signals that the House and Senate are on the verge of making Biden's top priority a reality. But there are still some speed bumps ahead, including an uncertain amendment process and simple delays from the GOP.

from the linked Politico post.

This simply a huge win for Biden, the Democratic party and the people of the USA.

[Happy Hoosier]

4. I'm pretty disappointed that they are half-assing this.

I hope this is not a sign of things to come.

[ZZenith]

7. They are not "half-assing" anything.

They are operating within the bounds of what is politically possible.

[leftieNanner]

9. It doesn't seem half-assed to me

They kept the $400 per week unemployment bump, which is really key as far as I'm concerned.

It only slightly reduces the income qualifications for the $1,400 checks.

That's my understanding anyway.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

21. It doesn't reduce the qualifications for $1400

It lowers the cut-off point for higher earners who won't get the full $1400.

[mcar]

28. Do you realize how many children will be lifted out of poverty by this bill?

This is hardly half-assed. But, if people on the left continue to complain about it, we could end up just like after the ACA. The media will love to push "Dems in disarray" again.

[White Fox]

35. The answer to your question is there aren't any...

A single $1400 check after waiting 10 months with nothing will not even pay the
back rent for 3 months let alone put food on the table!

Now if those checks were RECURRING we might have something there...but this tiny
single payment won't do shit...

[mcar]

42. You really think the bill is nothing but that check?

https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/reports/2021/02/23/495784/expanded-child-tax-credit-lift-millions-children-poverty/

An Expanded Child Tax Credit Would Lift Millions of Children Out of Poverty

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/27/heres-whats-in-the-dem-houses-covid-relief-bill.html

Child tax credit
In one of the more ambitious provisions, the bill institutes a fully refundable child tax credit for 2021, increasing the amount from $2,000 to $3,000 per child ages 6 to 17 and to $3,600 for children under the age of 6.

These payments begin to phase out for individuals earning more than $75,000 a year or married couples earning more than $150,000.

Because they are fully refundable, eligible households would qualify for the credit no matter how little income they earn each year. Those households would receive a check from the IRS.

[Hortensis]

43. Take it to the Republicans. And vote to put their asses in jail.

This holocaust and over 500,000 deaths are their doing, but there wouldn't have been any relief bills if they could have stopped them. They did try to transfer massive amounts to their wealthy on the first bill, of course, and the expectation is that none will vote for this one. Being them.

[Hortensis]

44. Yes. We have the technical majority and professionals

who know what they're doing, so,...good job! Republicans mostly lose.

As for those constantly set up for disappointment, it's painful to watch, but we're all grownups and all have the same access to information.

[mcar]

45. I hate to see us starting to eat our own already

The perfection caucus hasn't seemed to learn anything from the Obama years and the disaster of the former guy.

[Happy Hoosier]

47. I'm disappointed, not angry. NT

[Happy Hoosier]

46. I'm not saying my way or nothing...

I said I‘m disappointed. It will have less impact than it should.

[Doremus]

36. Agree. Dems would have approved it if push came to shove.

Somebody needs to learn to play poker.

[BlueTsunami2018]

5. Have to do what you have to do.

It’s unfortunate that one of our own has to be such a GREAT AND WONDERFUL DEMOCRAT (yay!) to water down the necessary legislation but politics is the art of the possible. And what’s possible right now is what we’re getting because of this TREMENDOUSLY AWESOME DEMOCRAT (yay!)!!

😉

[comradebillyboy]

10. It was more than just Manchin. There were several

Senators who wanted the payments targeted.

[BlueTsunami2018]

24. Yeah but he's the most wonderful guy of them all.

His awesomeness will be the one holding back every bit of progress we need. He and the other stupendously excellent senator from Arizona.

[Doremus]

39. They would have voted for it.

We just can't seem to learn how to use power.

[liskddksil]

6. Manchin is right. Its targeted...at us losing next cycle because of broken promises.

[ZZenith]

12. The full amount will go to 81% of American households.

If you’re in the top 19% I don’t see how $1400 should be enough to sway your political affiliation, unless you’re a complete asshole.

[liskddksil]

15. I'm referring to those making $80-100K (single) which is by no means upper class

in most cities, especially with cost-of-living increases this year. This was the category changed during the negotiations today, and will no longer see any stimulus check. I am seeing lots of anger of this on Twitter and Reddit among the kind of voters we need to keep in our corner.

[Johonny]

22. Pretty much

I don't think in anyway need this stimulus to survive 2021, but I do see in everyway, how urban middle class voters get hit by things like this and the SALT cap etc... Every time it seems to be us that miss out, and yet it's us they rely on to win elections...

[Freddie]

26. The SALT cap

Is totally on the Repugs, not us.

[ZZenith]

29. They think they're going to get a better deal from the fucking Republicans?!

[wellst0nev0ter]

16. And it saves only $12 billion

Less than 1% of the total package. This is a total political theatrics for an audience of who the fuck knows.

[Andy823]

31. Good point

I would think that it's better to give extra money to those unemployed. They will need that extra money until things get back to half way normal, and they can go back to work.

I also agree with you that those in the top 19% are not going to change parties over this, unless as you said they are complete assholes!

[rso]

40. Manchin

And some of the 19% will get a portion of the $ 1400.

[bdamomma]

17. Why does

Manchin have so much power, just asking?

[liskddksil]

23. Lots of reasons

1. Senate constitutionally designed to protect the interests of the minority (rural America) over urban America. Its why the Dakotas have 4 senators and California has 2.
2. Democrats failing to get out the vote, particularly in midterm elections these last 2 decade and not learning lessons from cycle to cycle to improve performances and win more seats.
3. In 2020, Cal Cunningham costing us the North Carolina Senate seat because he couldn't keep it in his pants.
4. In 2016, Mike Bloomberg endorsing Republican Pat Toomey, which likely cost us the race.

[bdamomma]

27. hmmm...

interesting info. thanks.

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

30. We need his vote for everything if the gop holds together

With the Senate tied at 50-50, he needs to stay on board so that VP Harris can cast the tie breaking vote. We lose his vote and we lose 51-49. Dem leadership also needs to tread somewhat carefully with him as he could easily switch parties and give majority control back to the GOP. WV is a deep red state and its Governor was elected as Democrat in 2016 by 5pts. Then he switched to the Republican party and was reelected in 2020 by 34pts.

[bearsfootball516]

8. As Aaron Burr says in Hamilton about being in the deal-making room,

"The art of the compromise, hold your nose and and close your eyes."

[Baitball Blogger]

11. I just wonder. What percentage of people in WV will benefit from the low phase out, compared

to other states?

Maybe income in WV is lower than in other states, so Manchin took care of his people, while those that live in States with a higher cost of living got screwed?

[liskddksil]

25. No one benefits because the money saved is not going to any other items in the bill.

More West Virginians will get the full amount, yes, because of the salaries there are less than Metro NY or metro-Atlanta;

[Andy823]

34. Well maybe

those making less money need more to survive than someone who is still making $80,000 per year.

[Mary in S. Carolina]

13. Democracy

This is how Democracy works, is it ideal "no", we need Manchin, please put yourselves in his shoes - he is a democrat in ruby red West Virginia, we need him more than he needs us. We need to compromise even within the Democratic Party (this is not a loss, this is a win).

[comradebillyboy]

14. Indeed it is a win and it should be celebrated.

[Fullduplexxx]

32. Great I'll go unscrew the top of my best champagne

[Johonny]

19. Oh great, looks like another round of no stimulus for me

[leftstreet]

20. Fastest catapulting to midterm losing strategy I've yet seen

wow

So why didn't (just even for the theater sake of it) a handful of Senate Dems come out and say THEY'D refused to vote for it unless the parameter was restored?

[barbtries]

33. i'm very fortunate and don't need the stimulus.

just get it done, people are suffering.

[Deminpenn]

38. +1

For me, it's nice to have, not need to have extra money.

If this was the trade-off for keep the $400/wk extra unemployment benefit, it was worth it.

[gratuitous]

37. I'm willing to wait and see what happens

But I've seen a report at Eschaton quoting Jeff Stein at the Washington Post by way of Daniel Dayen that all this frugality will trim a whopping $12 billion off the $1.9 trillion price tag. That's stretching the concept of fiscal responsibility pretty far to cover what is basically a rounding error.

[colsohlibgal]

48. Don't Need It Also

It’s close but I will get it.....happy about that, don’t need really but I do a fair amount of donating to good causes and this will facilitate this picking up a bit.