WASHINGTON – U.S. President Joe Biden heads to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to meet with Senate Democrats after the lawmakers announced an agreement on a $3.5 trillion plan to expand spending on health care for the elderly, climate change and programs to help families, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said.
The package would be “the biggest investment in the middle class in decades,” Schumer said on Tuesday.
Senator Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat, told reporters the plan included provisions that would fully cover the cost of the programs.
While Warner did not specify how the measure would be paid for, Biden has pushed for raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations.
Republicans in Congress oppose such tax increases, after having achieved a round of tax cuts — including to the corporate tax rate — during the previous administration of President Donald Trump.
In order for the plan to proceed, it will need the support of the full 50-member Democratic caucus. Democratic leaders want to pass a budget resolution that would provide the framework for the legislation before lawmakers leave town for their August recess.
With Republicans not expected to support the measure, Democrats are likely to proceed under a special process known as a budget reconciliation. That would allow the bill to advance with only a simple majority and not be subject to a potential filibuster, a move by the minority Republicans to block or delay a vote.
A budget resolution would allow Democrats to pass spending legislation later in the year, also with a simple majority, to fill out the specifics of the programs.
There is also ongoing negotiation on a separate, bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure measure for items such as roads, bridges, water systems and broadband internet.
U.S. President Joe Biden heads to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to meet with Senate Democrats after the lawmakers announced an agreement on a $3.5 trillion plan to expand spending on health care for the elderly, climate change and programs to help families, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said.
The package would be “the biggest investment in the middle class in decades,” Schumer said on Tuesday.
Senator Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat, told reporters the plan included provisions that would fully cover the cost of the programs.
While Warner did not specify how the measure would be paid for, Biden has pushed for raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations.
Republicans in Congress oppose such tax increases, after having achieved a round of tax cuts — including to the corporate tax rate — during the previous administration of President Donald Trump.
In order for the plan to proceed, it will need the support of the full 50-member Democratic caucus. Democratic leaders want to pass a budget resolution that would provide the framework for the legislation before lawmakers leave town for their August recess.
With Republicans not expected to support the measure, Democrats are likely to proceed under a special process known as a budget reconciliation. That would allow the bill to advance with only a simple majority and not be subject to a potential filibuster, a move by the minority Republicans to block or delay a vote.
A budget resolution would allow Democrats to pass spending legislation later in the year, also with a simple majority, to fill out the specifics of the programs.
There is also ongoing negotiation on a separate, bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure measure for items such as roads, bridges, water systems and broadband internet.
Some information for this report came from the Associated Press and Reuters.
