THE RECONCILIATION PUZZLE
By Lisa Desjardins, @LisaDNews
Correspondent
In the next two weeks, Democrats hope to make one of the most consequential decisions of the next few years -- determining the size and scope of the Build Back Better Act. If passed, it would be one of the largest laws in terms of dollar-size and overall effects in U.S. history.
Much of the talk and headline-chasing has focused on the exact dollar amount for the final bill. Progressives want close to $3.5 trillion, while key Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., has said he wants the legislation to be $1.5 trillion or less.
The number is important. But the debate is actually about the search for mathematical, economic and political harmony.
Democrats have to come up with a tricky formula, a combination of programs that are themselves the right mix of policies and multiplier effects and which also add up to a politically feasible final number.
It is a Jenga tower of policy. Move one idea in, or out, and it affects the size and stability of the structure.
We thought it a good idea to look at the new programs and benefits in play here. We’ve included early, rough estimates of costs, based on the House-passed or Senate-committee-endorsed versions of legislation so far.
Child Care
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$800 billion to $1.6 Trillion: making child tax credit of up to $3,600 per child permanent The range depends on varying estimates as well as different timelines and potential limits by income.
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$225 billion: paid family leave.
Climate Change
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$235 billion: tax incentives for large range of electric and more efficient energy products
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$150 billion:clean electricity program to change where utilities get energy
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$20 billion: energy efficiency, electrification expansion
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$10 to 30 billion: Civilian Conservation Corps
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$15 billion:expanding government electric vehicle fleet
Education
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$450 billion: Universal pre-K
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$111 billion: two years of tuition-free community college (for five years)
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$85 billion: repair and improve school facilities/infrastructure
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$80 billion: Pell grant expansion
Health Care
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+$500 to$700 billion revenue gain from allowingMedicare to negotiate prices with drug makers, a provision tied to Democrats’ proposals to expand Medicare and medicaid access
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$300 billion:Medicare expansion
Cybersecurity
FIVE OVERLOOKED POLITICAL STORIES FROM THE PAST WEEK
By Saher Khan, @SaherMKhan
Politics Producer
When Child Care Costs Twice as Much as the Mortgage Oct. 9 A child care center in Greensboro, North Carolina illustrates the struggle facing families and teachers throughout the country; child care costs are extremely expensive but centers are struggling to retain teachers, paying them close to minimum wages. President Biden’s social spending bill being deliberated in Congress hopes to remedy these issues. Why it matters: The dichotomy of high costs to run centers with low wages for teachers has created a shortage of qualified teachers to care for kids, despite parents paying high prices for care. It has also forced families to restructure their lives, change hours or leave work entirely, cut back on other expenses and reconsider having children. -- NYTimes
Liberal Democrats have become the mainstream of the party and less willing to compromise with dwindling moderates Oct 10. Democrats in Congress are at a stalemate in their efforts to pass President Biden’s social spending bill, but powers of influence in the party have changed, with progressives, a group that once struggled to get their policies into bills, now the mainstream voice of the Democratic party. Why it matters: The shift in party dynamics represents a larger shift among Democratic voters, who themselves are now more progressive around issues like child care, health care and climate change than voters were during the Obama administration. Policies that hang in the balance in these negotiations include establishing universal pre-K, guaranteeing 12 weeks of paid family leave and expanding Medicare to cover dental, hearing and vision. -- Washington Post
The Postal Service is slowing the mail to save money. Critics say it's a death spiral Oct 8. The Postal Service has been forced to slow services and raise prices, with a temporary holiday increase for packages now in effect and the price of stamps going up from 55 cents to 58 cents in August. Why it matters: The Postal Service lost around $9 billion in 2020 and its ongoing struggle with revenue will continue to create cutbacks in its services, soon sending the agency to its death. These setbacks for the service would harm low income and rural communities who rely heavily on the US Postal Service for their mail. -- NPR
Mainstream Republicans seek to ‘rescue’ Idaho – from the GOP Oct 8 Due to growing strife between centrist Republicans and the far-right of the party in Idaho, traditional GOP figures are encouraging Independents and Democrats to register as Republicans to help shut out extremist candidates in the upcoming primaries. Why it matters: The divide between traditional Republicans and far-right Trump acolytes is growing throughout the country. Idaho is trying to grow its economy by expanding a tech sector and attracting high-skilled workers, but lawmakers fear far-right politics could bring setbacks. -- Seattle Times
Cutting climate programs may be harder than other things as Biden trims his bill Oct 7 Democrats have to find cuts to their massive social spending bill and climate policies could be on the chopping block. But Biden faces pressure to deliver on promises to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions. Why it matters: Biden has to attend a global climate summit at the end of the month and observers say the President needs to arrive showing the world the U.S. has an actionable plan to meet the climate goals he's set for the country. Biden also faces an existential issue; while lawmakers debate climate policy, maintaining the goal of keeping the planet’s warming under 1.5 degrees Celsius, is getting much harder to achieve. -- NPR
#POLITICSTRIVIA
By Tess Conciatori, @tkconch
Politics Producer
On this day in 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt officially renamed the president’s home at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, “The White House.”
Our question: What was the White House called before the change?
Send your answers to [email protected] or tweet using #PoliticsTrivia. The first correct answers will earn a shout-out next week.
Last week, we asked: Which president made TV history?
The answer: Harry Truman
The history-making address was part of Truman’s Marshall Plan to help Europe rebuild after World War II. In the speech, he called on Americans to consume less grain so that the U.S. could ship food to Europe, which was struggling with famine. Though the speech was televised, very few Americans owned the device, and so the majority heard the announcement on the radio.
Congratulations to our winners: Jackie Austin and Dajuana Carson!
Thank you all for reading and watching. We’ll drop into your inbox next week.
