Budget, Biden agenda, majority all hang in the balance

President Joe Biden’s visionary plan to remake America’s social safety net, transform its energy profile, and reform its tax structure—all part of the costly Build Back Better (BBB) initiative—is already floundering in a split Senate and was doomed by members of his own party. The burdens of an elusive majority, a tenacious virus, a unified opposition, and an overwhelmed and weary populace have combined to turn Biden’s early successes, the American Recovery Act (ACA) and the infrastructure bill, into distant memories as he engages in political trench warfare.

Beleaguered Democrats facing tough reelection fights are pressuring the administration to change strategies and try to pass the most popular parts of BBB—childcare tax credits, prescription drug relief, and expanded ACA—so they have something to show for their constituents. The Democrats’ internecine battles have thus far prevented the fallback position from being adopted. The party’s progressive wing is still pursuing its positions on ideological grounds, but Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s pragmatism may ultimately prevail. Time is running out, however, and not simply because of the November election.

Budget deadline looms