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WASHINGTON, DC – President Biden’s multibillion-dollar national agenda, at risk due to Democratic internal struggles, receives a big boost from former President Barack Obama, who told ABC News in an interview exclusive that the country “desperately needs” the program and that it supports taxation of the rich to help support the package.
“You talk about us stepping up and spending money to provide child care tax credits – making them permanent to help families, who have long needed help,” Obama told ABC News in an interview.
“You are looking to make our infrastructure more efficient… you talk about rebuilding many buildings, roads, bridges, ports so that they are fortified against climate change. And also, that we start investing in the kinds of energy efficiency that will be needed to tackle climate change.
The former president’s comments come as ongoing disagreements between progressive and moderate Democrats in the House have delayed a vote on a massive $ 1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill that has passed in the Senate August 10.
The legislation strengthens the financing of the country’s infrastructure – from roads and bridges to transit systems and the electricity grid.
Progressives have indicated that they will not vote on the infrastructure bill until the larger $ 3.5 trillion bill, called “human infrastructure,” is also ready for a vote, but a vote. part of the bill’s content larger, as well as disagreements over how to pay as this has been a point of contention among Democrats.
The $ 3.5 trillion bill is a 10-year spending plan that covers a host of Democratic priorities, including investments in health care, child care, senior care, education universal preschool, free community college, as well as climate change efforts.
Republicans and some moderate Democrats have raised concerns over the price of the package, while House Democrats have sought to offset the costs by raising taxes for wealthy Americans and businesses – a proposal Obama said they support .
“I think they can afford it. We can afford it. I put myself in that category now, ”Obama told ABC News.
“This is paid for by asking the richest Americans, who have benefited incredibly over the past decades – and even in the midst of a pandemic, have seen their wealth and assets increase tremendously – asking them to pay a few points. percentage more in taxes to make sure we have an economy that’s fair for everyone, ”Obama said.
“I think anyone who claims it’s a hardship for billionaires to pay a little more tax for a single mom to receive childcare assistance or so we can make sure our communities are not. not inundated by wildfires and floods and that we’re doing something about climate change for the next generation – you know, that’s an argument that isn’t viable, ”he added .
Hoping to save his agenda, Biden met with members of Congress last week, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y., as well. only moderate and progressive Democrats from both houses.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Thursday that the administration was considering a “range of options” to fund the plan.
“Our bar continued – has always been from the start, nothing that would raise taxes for anyone making less than $ 400,000 a year. And we certainly won’t support anything that would, ”she added.
Following the meeting with the president, Pelosi indicated that a vote on the infrastructure bill in the House was scheduled for Monday, September 27 – a timeline she has since indicated could change.
“I never introduce a bill that doesn’t have the votes,” Pelosi told ABC’s “This Week” host George Stephanopoulos on Sunday.
“You can’t choose the date,” she added. “You have to leave when you have the votes within a reasonable time, and we will.”
A White House official told ABC News on Monday that Biden, along with senior White House officials, spoke this weekend with several members of Congress whose votes are critical to pushing through the legislation.
“The engagement runs throughout the weekend through Monday and it remains clear that there is a strong determination in the caucuses behind the passage of these bills so that our economy is at the service of the class. average and not just those at the top, ”the White House official said. .
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