On Sunday, the US Senaterejected an attempt to amend the $430 billion bill sought by President Joe Biden. It aims to control climate change and reduce prescription drug costs for older people.
Senators worked over the weekend to pass bill central to Biden's national agenda, hoping to get it passed before the August recess begins. I worked until morning in anticipation. The bill also aims to strengthen enforcement of tax payments from corporations and the wealthy.
"Now is the time to push for a big and bold package for the American people," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said at the start of Saturday night's debate.
He called the legislation "the most audacious clean energy effort in American history" to reduce consumer costs for some medicines and energy while combating climate change . It said it contained a package.
Democrats are under heavy fire from Republicans over his $430 billion in new spending and more than $740 billion in new revenues from the bill.
Nevertheless, Democrats said their bill had deep support among voters. They hope that passage in the Senate and House by the end of next week will help Democratic candidates in the Nov. 8 midterm elections at a time when party leader Biden is struggling with poor public support.
Democrats are fighting to maintain tight control over the Senate and the House of Representatives.
After spending hours debating the bill on Saturday, senators said: A ballot lama with Democratic and Republican amendments being submitted in rapid succession."
The Democrats passed the bill with only a simple majority under a process called "reconciliation," circumventing the filibuster rule that requires him to have 60 votes in a 100-seat House, allowing most I want the law to move forward. This will allow Democrats to pass it against Republican opposition.
However, it failed to gather the votes necessary to maintain the provision limiting skyrocketing insulin costs in the private health insurance market to $35 per month, which was outside the scope of the adjustment rule. . The proposal was defeated by three votes despite the support of seven Republicans. Democrats said the law would still limit insulin costs for Medicare subscribers.
Democrats would also significantly change the bill and run the risk of dismantling her 50-senator coalition needed to get the bill off the ground to lower insulin costs. rejected the Republican amendment.
Agents while cutting other spending that forced the vote on immigration reform.
Another Republican proposal enacted the Trump administration's policy stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, effectively shutting down the US asylum system. The Biden administration is embroiled in a legal battle to replace its "Title 42" policy with what it describes as a more humane and orderly system for migrants crossing its southwestern border with Mexico.
Title 42 Amendment Although the bill was defeated by a 50-50 vote, it is likely to become an issue in the campaign ahead of the November election, prompting vulnerable Democratic senators from border states, such as Arizona's Mark Kelly, to challenge them. defend the opposition of
Former presidential candidate and Democratic allied independent Senator Bernie Sanders was completely defeated in the first amendment proposed. It would have greatly expanded the number of bill prescription drugs subject to price negotiations under the government's Medicare insurance plan for the elderly.
His 99-to-1 opposition to the Amendment The votes collected only support for Sanders.
Senate also overwhelms Sanders proposal to expand Medicare coverage for eyeglasses did. Hearing aids and dental care.
This health-care portion of the broad bill was negotiated by Democrats over several months to reduce the price of a limited number of prescription drugs to Medicare's 2026 bill as a way to cut costs. will be able to start negotiations with the pharmaceutical industry. It also sets a $2,000 annual cap on out-of-pocket medication costs under Medicare's drug program.
Elsewhere in the bill, through federal incentives to manufacture and purchase electric vehicles and other “green” The goal is to bring down the of high inflation.
The Senate also quickly defeated Republican amendments to cut fees for oil refiners to cover the cost of cleaning up newly proposed toxic waste spills, and to cut fees for onshore oil drilling projects. passed another amendment to immediately expand the federal lease of
"Instead of begging other dictators to produce more oil and gas, we should increase American production," Republican Senator John Barrasso appealed unsuccessfully.
The 755-page bill includes a minimum 15% tax on businesses and closing loopholes that the wealthy can use to avoid paying taxes. It will also fund the hiring of IRS officials to boost tax payments and impose a new excise tax on stock buybacks.