14.07.2021 – 20:07
WASHINGTON – U.S. President Joe Biden goes to Congress Wednesday to meet with Senate Democrats after lawmakers announced a deal on a $ 3.5 trillion plan to expand spending on health care for the elderly, climate change and programs for help families, said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
The aid package will be “The biggest investment for the middle class in a few decades”, Mr. Schumer said on Tuesday. Virginia State Sen. Mark Warner, a Democrat, told reporters that the plan includes provisions that will fully cover the cost of these programs.
While Senator Warner did not specify how this aid package would be paid, President Biden has made efforts to raise taxes for the wealthy and corporations.
Republicans in Congress are against raising taxes. During President Donald Trump’s previous administration, they approved a series of tax cuts – including corporate tax rates.
To pass the current plan, Democrats will need the full support of their 50-member Senate. Democrat leaders want to pass a budget resolution that would provide the framework for legislation before lawmakers leave for the summer recess in August.
With Republicans not expected to support the plan, Democrats are likely to follow a separate procedure by attaching the plan to the budget law. This would allow the bill to be passed by a simple majority only and not be subject to a possible blocking process by Republicans.
A budget resolution would allow Democrats to pass the budget spending bill later in the year, also by a simple majority.
In parallel with these initiatives, bipartisan negotiations are underway for another $ 1.2 trillion package of infrastructure spending on facilities such as roads, bridges, water systems and high-speed internet./VOA
