The American Rescue Plan - passed by Congress and signed by @JoeBiden will bring badly needed relief to millions of families and begin the long road of recovery from the pandemic.
But both the process and the end product reveal a lot about the state of American governance.
But both the process and the end product reveal a lot about the state of American governance.
1) The ARP is not enough to meet the scale of the pandemic after nearly a year of government inaction, and was weakened by misguided attempts at bipartisanship.
We need to see continued expansions of our social safety net and further policies that benefit workers.
We need to see continued expansions of our social safety net and further policies that benefit workers.
2) The pandemic has only exacerbated existing cracks in our economy.
Hopefully, many of the anti-poverty programs will be made permanent, creating a more comprehensive social safety net that catches people and prevents them from falling into poverty or homelessness.
Hopefully, many of the anti-poverty programs will be made permanent, creating a more comprehensive social safety net that catches people and prevents them from falling into poverty or homelessness.
3) The process of passing the ARP should make one thing crystal clear: Republicans are utterly unwilling to work in good faith with Democrats.
Not a single Republican voted to pass the American Rescue Plan. If Republicans won't support direly needed (and popular) relief...
Not a single Republican voted to pass the American Rescue Plan. If Republicans won't support direly needed (and popular) relief...
...there is no realistic path to getting Republican votes on other urgent matters like the climate crisis, or secure voting rights against the attacks on democracy that they themselves are pushing forward at the state level.
As we mark the halfway point of Biden's first 100 days in office, Democrats have a choice to make: they can attempt to work with Republicans in vain or they can use their power to meaningfully improve peoples’ lives.
It's that simple a choice.
It's that simple a choice.
Passing bills on a majority-rule basis - like the ARP - is the way to continue to help struggling Americans and build lasting political capital.
Seeking Republican cooperation is building a bridge to nowhere.
The need to abolish the filibuster has never been more evident.
Seeking Republican cooperation is building a bridge to nowhere.
The need to abolish the filibuster has never been more evident.
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