Congress returns for frenzied sessions with Biden’s future at stake

Avoiding a government shutdown is also a priority on the agenda, as is avoiding catastrophic credit debt, which could be the biggest challenge ahead.

Democrats hope to get a $ 3.5 trillion social policy package through a process known as reconciliation, which means they can pass the bill by a simple majority (50 of 100 senators plus vice -President). Kamala Harris).

Without reconciliation, it would take 60 votes in a fair procedural vote to move the legislation forward, and it would take the support of 10 Republicans.

The ‘Build Back Better’ package aims to tackle climate change, reduce the costs of childcare and education for working families and create millions of jobs.

Biden said in a speech Thursday that he was confident Congress would approve the plan, describing it as a moment that could “change the course” of the United States for decades to come.

As expected, republicans reject the proposals as an example of tax policy and out of control spending, but the real battle rages between moderate and progressive democrats.

Concerned about inflation and the national debt ($ 28.8 trillion and rising), Center Democratic Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema oppose the high price of the bill, although Manchin has indicated it could be open to a $ 1.5 trillion package.

From the left wing of the party, the chairman of the Senate budget committee, Bernie Sanders, told CNN that any bill below $ 3.5 trillion was “absolutely unacceptable” to him.

Showing no doubts about the increase in debt, House Democrats circulated a “Build Back Better” funding plan across nearly $ 3 trillion in New taxes, principally of Americans rich and companies, in addition to minor reforms such as stricter tax collection.

A project of law of Infrastructure $ 1.2 trillion was approved by the Senate in August, supported by a third of the 50 Republicans and 50 Democrats.

The Democratic President of the House of Representatives, Nancy PelosiHe has promised a vote before September 27 in this body, where his party has a very narrow majority.

But then again, the real fight is internal, as the Progressive Democratic wing says it won’t vote until the broader reconciliation package is resolved.

Experts believe the process could take weeks or months.

The infrastructure bill includes $ 500 billion in new federal spending on roads, bridges, transportation, high-speed internet and climate change measures, including a network of electric car charging stations.

The US debt ceiling must be suspended or raised in the coming weeks to avoid a default, which would trigger an economic collapse and a global financial collapse.

The Secretary of the Treasury, Janet Yellen, warned of “irreparable damage to the US economy” next month.

Lawmakers will need to pass a new budget by October 1 to avoid a government shutdown, which happens when federal agency funding runs out and they can no longer function.

Republicans have suggested that Biden’s policies created the need to increase the debt limit. However, Treasury Department data shows Republicans racked up $ 7.8 trillion in new debt during the administration of Donald Asset -more than a quarter of the total-, in just four years.