Stephan: Here is a very good assessment of the upcoming struggle to do something meaningful with environmental remediation programs, healthcare, and taxes, and this time Schumer and Manchin are working together. I hope this turns into good news, but McConnell is going to try to block this, considering Democratic success injurious to the Republican possibility to take over the Senate. Manchin I think is cooperating because of a political calculation. If the Republicans were to take over the Senate, and have a majority of two Manchin loses most of his leverage power. He becomes just another backbencher.
Sen. Joe Manchin and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer are working toward legislation that provides $1 trillion in new revenues, half of which would go toward deficit reduction and half of which would go toward energy and health spending. | Credit: Getty
Democrats are taking tangible steps towards a deal on their party’s signature spending bill, expecting the proposal to dominate the rest of July and hoping it could reshape their political fortunes after six months of stasis.
Talks between Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) are beginning to yield concrete results on a potential climate, tax and prescription drugs package. Schumer told Senate Democrats recently that if he can reach a deal with Manchin, the bill could be on the floor as soon as this month, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.
Negotiators are still ironing out key details, but Democrats are signaling that as soon as next week they will begin arguing their case to the Senate rules chief on why the package should pass with a simple majority in the chamber. No […]
