Washington, Idaho Congress members vote on party line on $2 trillion Build Back Better Act

Like almost all congressional delegations, Congressmen from Idaho and Washington voted along the party lines on Friday for roughly $ 2 trillion bill that would make fundamental changes to numerous federal social and environmental programs.

Democrats hailed the proposal as a monumental move to make real progress on climate change, improve health care, and help the middle class and poor families who have pushed the American dream further out of their reach in recent decades.

Republicans criticized the bill as nothing less than a socialist agenda that would drive up debt and fuel rising inflation and supply shortages – which are already causing problems for many Americans.

The vote, 220-213, was cast after full party lines, with the exception of Maine Democratic MP Jared Golden, who voted no.

The plan, dubbed the Build Back Better Act after President Joe Biden’s election promise, will go to the Senate where it faces an uncertain future. Moderate Democrats there, including West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, have raised several concerns and called for changes.

Washington Democratic Senator Patty Murray said in a tweet after the vote that the Senate should vote on the bill “as soon as possible”.

“I made it clear from the start: We need both the bipartisan Infrastructure Act and the #BuildBackBetter Act to give families, employees and small businesses the chance of success.”

Spokane Republican MP Cathy McMorris Rodgers said in a statement that spending called for in the bill would lead to inflation and other problems.

“Today President Biden and the Democrats in the House of Representatives passed laws that will fundamentally change the United States of America – and not for the better,” said McMorris Rodgers. “This trillion dollar tax and shopping frenzy is an unprecedented setback to greater government control over our lives that will place our children with a debt they will never be able to repay.”

But Democratic MP Kim Schrier, whose borough stretches from Wenatchee to the Seattle suburbs, celebrated his passage.

“This historic bill will reduce health care and prescription drug costs, help the US meet its climate goals, create millions of family jobs, and ensure families have access to affordable, quality childcare and pre-K.” Said Schrier in a statement.

MEP Pramila Jayapal, D-Seattle, played a key role in passing the bill as Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. She backed a compromise between her party earlier this month that allowed the bipartisan infrastructure bill to be passed while slowing the Build Back Better Act so the Congressional Budget Office could complete its analysis of the bill’s cost before a vote, a demand the moderates. In return, most of the moderates approved the bill.

{div class = “tweet-body js-tweet-body”} “This historic bill will make real change for you, your family and communities across the country!” Jayapal tweeted after the vote.

The Congressional Budget Office’s analysis, released Thursday, found the bill would increase the deficit by $ 367 billion over 10 years. Biden had claimed his plan would not increase the deficit, a promise that some Republicans took up. However, Democrats have determined that the amount would drop to $ 160 billion once a provision to encourage tax enforcement was considered, the New York Times reported.

“Our national debt has already exceeded $ 28 trillion – to put that number in perspective, that’s roughly ($ 230,000) per taxpayer. Spokesman Pelosi and other Democratic leaders may have ($ 230,000) lying around, but most people – the vast majority of the people I represent – don’t, “Idaho Republican Mike Simpson said in a prepared statement.

A press release from Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Sunnyside, called the bill a “socialist shopping spree”.

“The American people are already struggling to make ends meet thanks to the skyrocketing inflation that has negatively impacted wage growth, supply chain disruptions, labor shortages and rising gas prices that we have seen under the Biden administration,” Newhouse said .

Republican Russ Fulcher, who represents Northern Idaho, has criticized the bill several times, including that it addresses numerous important issues at the same time that should only be considered individually.

“This bill, pushed through the House of Representatives without Republican support, reflects the most extreme priorities of the House Democratic faction and would bring our country one step closer to socialism. ”

Some Democrats maintained previous Democratic claims that showed the act would pay off. Rep. Marilyn Strickland, D-Tacoma, called the bill “transformational” and said it would alleviate Americans’ housing, childcare and health crises. {/ div}

“When we invest in women, families and caregivers, we are fueling an economic recovery that benefits all of us,” said Strickland. “With the Build Back Better Act, Congress will bring life-changing benefits to families in the South Sound and across the country – all without adding to the national debt.”

Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, focused his response on the bill’s childcare programs.

“The average annual childcare cost in Washington is over $ 13,400. The #BuildBackBetter Act will expand access for over 470,100 young Washingtoners and ensure that no Washington family pays more than 7% of their income to care for children, “Kilmer said in a tweet. “It’s a big thing for the people in our region.”

While the bill would provide significant relief to poor and low-income families, Republicans noted that some provisions also benefit the rich. Idaho Republican Senator Mike Crapo cited work by the Joint Committee on Taxation suggesting that 90% of taxpayers making between $ 500,000 and $ 1 million would receive tax breaks from the law.

“This is hardly a large-scale tax cut for the middle class,” said Crapo, the top Republican on the Senate finance committee.

Despite some perks for high earners, the Democratic proposal would be paid in part in new taxes on the rich and corporate.

Bellevue Democratic MP Adam Smith praised Pelosi for getting the bill through the House despite a slim majority and major disagreements between moderates and liberals in her party.

“She has once again proven herself to be one of the most talented lawmakers and leaders in our history,” tweeted Smith. “No margin for error, but she delivered.”

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/nov/19/washington-idaho-congress-members-vote-on-party-li/