Where the Build Back Better Bill Stands
President Biden begins his second day in Rome, as the Group of 20 Summit starts today, with world leaders expected to focus on the Covid-19 pandemic, global supply chain problems, a global minimum tax rate, high energy prices, and combating the climate crisis. While House Democrats had hoped to have Biden’s Build Back Better bill on lock before Biden started this summit, we are currently in another holding pattern with only speculation as to why.
The new framework for the Build Back Better (BBB) agenda was published on Thursday and includes approximately $1.75 trillion of investments to combat climate change, extend health care coverage, and address child poverty. The White House says this current version of the bill was made together with Sens. Krysten Sinema (D-AZ) and Joe Manchin (D-WV). But since presenting the latest framework, these two senators have neglected to really promote the bill, after successfully getting rid of the paid family leave and free community college provisions.
Progressive Democrats are also hesitant to sign off on this version, and they have openly expressed dissatisfaction with the major safety net provisions that have been dropped. The following is a quick look at what is new, what is out, and what was kept intact in the package, which currently totals $1.75 trillion and is half the size of the original proposal from Biden.
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