Democrats torn by Biden’s bipartisan pledge

Democrats are torn between President BidenJoe Biden The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden officials brace for worst despite vaccine data Congress seeks to curb Biden’s war powers Democrats grab the franchise; GOP screams scandal MOREthe promise to bring two-party politics back to Washington; and his party’s desire to adopt bold and ambitious new policies.

The White House and Democratic leaders in Congress will need to unite their worried colleagues in order to pass Biden’s next legislative goal.

The White House brewing plans to spend more than $ 4 trillion on infrastructure and raise taxes by more than $ 3 trillion will spark a fierce battle with Republicans, who are already closing ranks.

Democratic centrists are pushing for parties to come together to pass bills on infrastructure and other issues, but that seems unlikely.

Expanded background checks for all gun sales, an issue that enjoys wide public support, looms as a divisive issue as Republicans don’t want to expand them beyond commercial sales. Biden’s priorities for electoral reform, law for the people, and John lewisJohn Lewis Biden: Georgian law is ‘Jim Crow in the 21st century’ Liberals believe Biden just facilitated removal of filibuster Warnock goes to jail after arrest, Georgia State Representative Cannon : “ She didn’t deserve this ” MORE The voting rights law also faces GOP filibusters and should not be passed.

Some Democrats, like Sen. Chris CoonsChris Andrew Coons Congress seeks to curb Biden’s war powers The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden to talk about infrastructure in the middle of the border, voting controversies Meet the senators at the center of fight against filibuster MORE (Del.), A key ally of Biden, wants to split the infrastructure package into two pieces and pass a smaller bill focused on traditional priorities – roads, bridges and railroads – with Republican votes.

But progressive, led by Sens. Elizabeth warrenElizabeth Warren Democrats fight for infrastructure tax hikes Democrats seek capital gains tax on death The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden to speak on infrastructure in the middle of the border, voting controversies (D-Mass.) And Bernie sandersBernie Sanders Democrats grapple with infrastructure tax hikes Democrats seek capital gains tax on death Bernie Sanders lost election, but still gained control of the House White PLUS (I-Vt.), Worried that breaking down the most popular, bipartisan infrastructure priorities and handing them over on their own would give Republicans and perhaps some centrist Democrats an excuse to oppose a second package that includes a community college free and a universal preschool.

Some political and political experts claim that Biden’s mark as a pragmatist and centrist depends on his ability to garner bipartisan support for his infrastructure set.

“It’s essential. He has promised to be bipartisan, so I think it is essential that he follow through on that. And infrastructure is the perfect way to achieve it. It wouldn’t even take so much effort to do it and be bipartisan, ”said Michele Nellenbach, vice president of strategic initiatives at the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Nellenbach noted that Biden promised in the 2020 election to help heal the country, which makes it important for him to persuade Republican and Democratic lawmakers to compromise.

“This is what the country needs. Partisanship just seems to have reached a feverish level here and we need something to bring everyone together and something to show that we are a country that can do things together, ”she added.

Ben Barnes, a Democratic fundraiser, strategist and former Texas lieutenant governor, said “it’s important” for Biden to score major bipartisan achievements.

“Those of us who are old school and remember bipartisanship haven’t forgotten it, and I don’t think President Biden has forgotten it,” he said. “If anyone can do it, they can do it.”

Biden highlighted his continued efforts to educate Republicans at his first press conference last week.

“When was the last time a president invited the opposing party at least half a dozen times to talk about the issues?” he said. “We work together on a lot of things.”

At the same time, Biden is under pressure from Democrats in Congress to provide as extensive an infrastructure package as possible and raise taxes on wealthy individuals, families and businesses to pay it off – which falls flat with Republicans. .

Warren and Sanders led the chorus of progressive voices calling on the rich to “pay their share.”

“It is not a radical idea to demand that the richest among us pay our fair share and that we end a rigged tax code that disproportionately weighs on workers,” Sanders said in a statement. Monday calling on Congress to start taxing unrealized capital gains. which are transmitted to death.

A proposal launched by Sanders, Sen. Chris Van HollenChristopher (Chris) Van Hollen Democrats fight over infrastructure tax hikes Democrats seek capital gains tax on death Democrats disappoint by not pursuing more Trump settlements with ARC PLUS (D-Md.) And other Democrats to close the so-called strengthened base loophole would raise about $ 400 billion over 10 years.

Biden’s team circulated a proposal in February to spend $ 3 trillion on infrastructure and offset the cost by raising taxes by $ 1 trillion. His plan has since grown far more ambitious amid calls from fellow Democrats to make “big and bold” change.

Democratic and Republican political pundits predict Biden won’t get any GOP votes for an infrastructure package that dramatically raises taxes.

Jim Kessler, executive vice president for policy at Third Way, a Democratic think tank, said that “infrastructure proposals could gain support well beyond Democrats, in theory, and as soon as you get to the payments. , the Republicans give up. ”

He said Democrats could potentially move an infrastructure package separately from a tax reform package to help offset its cost.

“There are different paths. Do they travel separately at first and meet later? He suggested.

Majority leader in the Senate Charles SchumerChuck SchumerSchumer Goes into Reelection Mode The Shame That Was Biden’s Press Conference Democrats Act To Crush Rise And Threat Of Red States READ MOREThe office of (DN.Y.) announced on Monday that key aides had urged the Senate parliamentarian to allow him to come up with two more reconciliation packages this year, which could allow Democrats to vote on infrastructure spending and tax increases to pay them separately. It would also allow Schumer to push two more bills through the upper house with simple majorities instead of 60 votes.

Schumer, however, warns that he will not delay the Democratic agenda to woo Republicans.

Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), a conservative advocacy group, predicted that Biden’s proposal to raise taxes to pay for infrastructure would not gain Republican support.

“There is no Republican vote for a tax hike,” he said, noting that about 85% to 90% of Republicans in Congress have signed a pledge at the head of the ATR not to not raise taxes.

Either way, the GOP’s opposition to tax hikes is even larger than that figure, according to Norquist.

“You don’t have to say that this person violated the undertaking because they voted for a tax increase. All you need to point out is that these are Republicans who voted for a tax hike and people are calling themselves ‘fucking liar’, ”he said.

Democratic aides and strategists are divided over whether Biden really needs to rack up bipartisan achievements or if he just needs to make an effort to work across the aisle to keep his campaign promise.

Some Democrats say that if Biden can show Republicans are unwilling to join him on grassroots initiatives, such as expanding background checks, then he and his allies can argue that the GOP’s lack of support for other initiatives such as infrastructure or legislation on the right to vote to political obstructionism.

Senate Democrats were surprised they didn’t get a single Republican vote in either house of Congress for the $ 1.9 trillion US bailout, even though it included an array of proposals backed by Republicans, like $ 1,400 stimulus checks – an idea the former President TrumpDonald Trump The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden officials brace for worst despite vaccine data Trump launches ’45th President’s official website’ Judge rules Ohio professor can sue university for not using the student’s preferred pronoun PLUS supported last year. It also included more money for the distribution of vaccines, the reopening of schools and loans to small businesses.

“It would be great to do something bipartisan, but I think a lot of [Democratic senators] were surprised that there was no will to do COVID on the part of Republicans, not at all, ”said a Democratic Senate aide.

Given the lack of support for Biden’s relief plan despite its 75% jobs approval rating to respond to the pandemic, some Democrats say he is unlikely to gain bipartisan support for infrastructure .

“Is there an infrastructure bill that gets 10 Republicans?” asked a Democratic strategist speaking on the merits, citing the number needed to reach 60 votes and overcome a filibuster in the equally divided Senate.

The strategist said Biden’s best bet was to pressure Republicans to join him instead of watering down his proposals in the hopes of garnering a few GOP votes and argued it would be a mistake to divide Biden’s $ 3-4 trillion infrastructure proposal.

“Why would we want to give Republicans a free pass on the most popular things so they can just beat us up on the things they think are less popular?” We want everything to be together. If you don’t vote with us, you’re not going to vote only on popular things, ”the strategist said.