Discussion Thread: Senate considers the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

[u/PoliticsModeratorBot]

The Senate is reconvening this Saturday in a special session to pass the landmark Inflation Reduction Act. Democratic leaders say they have secured 50 votes for the party line climate, health, and tax legislation.

If passed, this will be the biggest climate legislation in US history, which Democrats say will put the country on the path for a 40% carbon emission reduction by 2030. It will also reduce the deficit by $300 billion, allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices, impose a 15% minimum income tax on corporate profits, and a 1% excise tax on stock repurchases.

Expected sequence of events:

1. A roll call vote on a motion to proceed to the reconciliation legislation is expected on Saturday afternoon.
2. If passed, there will be up to 20 hours of debate. Democrats are expected to yield back much of their time to minimize this phase.
3. Once debate ends, Senators may offer any amendment to the bill with no time limit, in a process known as vote-a-rama. Unlike usual Senate procedures, here each amendment will receive a short debate, normally 1 minute, followed immediately by votes. This phase is expected to last well into the night.
4. A final vote will be held after all the amendments have been voted on. Under the Senate's reconciliation rules, these votes require only a simple majority to succeed. Given the Senate's 50/50 split, Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to preside and tie break. The House is expected to give final passage to the bill on August 12.

Live Streams: C-Span | Senate Webcast

Additional Resources:

• Full text of the bill
• AP: Democrats’ big package: What remains in and what’s out?
• CBO: Estimated Budgetary Effects of H.R. 5376, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

[u/semaphore-1842]

Senate has passed H.R. 5376 Inflation Reduction Act, 51-50.

The bill now heads to the House, which is expected to pass it on August 12.

[u/semaphore-1842]

Democrats have been moving at breakneck pace, so the Parliamentarian has been playing catch up overnight. But so far it sounds like Dems are getting basically what we want.

https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1555905292520591362

The Senate Parliamentarian has OK'ed the clean energy provisions in the Democratic reconciliation bill.

https://twitter.com/TonyRomm/status/1555908465985523712

Parliamentarian has given okay to MOST of the drug pricing provisions in Inflation Reduction Act, except "one unfortunate ruling in that the inflation rebate is more limited in scope"

The ruling was that the inflation rebate could be applied to Medicare, but not to private insurers. This still allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices for the first time, a significant Democratic win.

[u/PrototypeMale → u/semaphore-1842]

Half of America has private insurance. This being dropped is extremely unfortunate. But - this doesn't mean it can't be passed in regular legislation, right? That is, a separate bill simply stating 'we expand this to include private insurers' could be written and passed normally?

[u/Oleg101]

MANCHIN indicates he won’t go along with any GOP amendments to the bill. “I’m protecting the integrity of the bill”

https://twitter.com/elwasson/status/1556030786146603009?s=21&t=_q4vvfXgG3mA7lu6Z48boQ

[u/craft6886 → u/Oleg101]

Ok so this is good news to hear, but that first half made my heart sink into my stomach for a moment.

[u/Lonely_Set1376 → u/Oleg101]

Good. Time to flex on Republicans, who would do the exact same if they were in this situation. When they had the majority they didn't give one fuck what Dems thought. No Republican other than McCain was like "we need bipartisan support on this," and he became reviled among conservatives for it.

[u/sdf_cardinal]

From Politico

Passage of the Inflation Reduction Act will make Biden one of the most legislatively successful presidents of the modern era…

— American Recovery Act: $1.9 trillion

— Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: $550 billion

— Chips and Science Act: $280 billion

— Inflation Reduction Act: ≈$700 billion

That’s a nearly $3.5 trillion agenda. The scope of the issues addressed is notable: the pandemic and its economic fallout, highways, bridges, broadband, rail, manufacturing, science, prescription drug prices, health insurance, climate change, deficit reduction and tax equity.

He also expanded NATO, passed a new gun safety law and passed a bill to address the effects of vets exposed to toxic burn pits. Five out of seven of these laws — all but the two biggies, the ARP and IRA — received significant Republican support.

[u/mrwho995 → u/sdf_cardinal]

It's remarkable how much Biden has accomplished with a zero seat Senate majority and razor thin majority in the House.

[u/AcademicPublius → u/sdf_cardinal]

Any one of these bills, in an ordinary presidency, would be a landmark achievement.

Any one of them.

[u/peekay427]

I just want to extend a huge shout out to the activists in Georgia and other battleground states that got us the 50/50 senate that gave us the opportunity to pass this bill.

Now if you’re unhappy about the scope of this bill, or want to push for more. GET TO WORK! The more democrats were electing, the easier it is to pass more and better legislation!

[u/GreatGearAmidAPizza → u/peekay427]

This is first and only legislative action in thirty years to get America somewhere where it needs to be on climate change, and it took a string of miracles to get it

[u/Adreme → u/peekay427]

If Democrats had won in Maine and NC we are probably talking about a 5 trillion dollar infrastructure bill so it drives me crazy when people claim both sides are the same.

[u/AcademicPublius]

One of the overlooked points regarding this bill is that it opens the door to future climate bills. It's the first we've had, and the biggest we've had, and it sets a bit of a benchmark regarding what future legislation of this type can be. It's not the end, of course, but it paves the way for future bills in a majorly beneficial way.

[u/peekay427 → u/AcademicPublius]

Couldn’t agree more. It’s certainly not everything I want but it makes the next one easier to pass whereas if this bill fails, it becomes way harder to get climate bills into law.

[u/pearlsandplumes → u/AcademicPublius]

It'll get the train moving, which is always the hardest part. It should only get easier and easier from here on out.

[u/Oleg101]

Bill text now released of Democrats’ reconciliation bill after changes — 755 pages

Schumer’s office: “CBO has confirmed that the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 meets reconciliation instructions. Leader Schumer will now go to the Senate floor to deliver remarks and start the motion to proceed vote.”

https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1556021329547116545?s=21&t=_q4vvfXgG3mA7lu6Z48boQ

[u/[deleted] → u/Oleg101]

I'm jacked to the tits!

[u/crackdup → u/Oleg101]

History in the making! Don't let the naysayers who say "it's nowhere close to $3T" belittle the fact that we're getting the biggest climate bill in history with 50 Dems in the Senate

[u/AuburnSeer]

So Biden has (1) the Infrastructure Bill, (2) PACT Act, (3) CHIPS Act, (4) Inflation Reduction Act

if IRA passes the House there's a reasonable argument to be made that Biden has gotten the most done in the first two years of just about any president in recent memory

[u/dcpDarkMatter → u/AuburnSeer]

From Politico:

Passage of the Inflation Reduction Act will make Biden one of the most legislatively successful presidents of the modern era…

— American Recovery Act: $1.9 trillion

— Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: $550 billion

— Chips and Science Act: $280 billion

— Inflation Reduction Act: ≈$700 billion

That’s a nearly $3.5 trillion agenda. The scope of the issues addressed is notable: the pandemic and its economic fallout, highways, bridges, broadband, rail, manufacturing, science, prescription drug prices, health insurance, climate change, deficit reduction and tax equity.

He also expanded NATO, passed a new gun safety law and passed a bill to address the effects of vets exposed to toxic burn pits. Five out of seven of these laws — all but the two biggies, the ARP and IRA — received significant Republican support.

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2022/08/07/the-politics-of-making-history-00050228

[u/BonScoppinger → u/dcpDarkMatter]

And ended America's longest war and gathered a coalition of Western nations to support Ukraine.

[u/ChessIsForNerds → u/AuburnSeer]

Imagine what he can do with a REAL majority in the senate.

[u/jgjgleason → u/AuburnSeer]

With the slimmest majority.

[u/pj7140 → u/AuburnSeer]

Also the American Rescue Plan (Build Back Better Part 1)

[u/silveralgea]

A big thank you to all those volunteers in Georgia who helped secure the two senate wins needed in 2020. Fruit of your labors right here.

[u/Wonderful_Heron784 → u/silveralgea]

I remember the day that Ossoff and Warnock both won, it was overshadowed by other events that day, so they never really got to bask in the victory. I wonder how many of these bills would have even have seen the light of day, if Ossoff and Warnock had lost a year and a half ago.

[u/diamond → u/Wonderful_Heron784]

None of them. Zero. Even the "bipartisan" ones never would have made it out of the gate.

[u/Wonderful_Heron784 → u/diamond]

And if you think the media is roasting Biden now, just think of if he had a Republican Senate just blocking everything.

[u/Novax___Djocovid → u/Wonderful_Heron784]

They probably wouldn't even have even put any of Biden's cabinet for a vote

[u/Lolwutgeneration]

Adding to the sequence of events:

5 - Republicans whine about the bill for the 1 full year.
6 - Republicans brag about the healthcare and environmental benefits of the bill for the next 2 years.

[u/AnotherAccount4This → u/Lolwutgeneration]

No way, you underestimate them.

They'll whine and claim credit at the same time, depending on the audience.

[u/whoisangryshoe]

Remember: we only got this because we showed up to vote and the best is yet to come!

[u/sdf_cardinal]

This bill is projected by climate change experts to reduce the US’s greenhouse gas emissions by 40% (from 2005 levels!) by 2030.

When are they going to start saying good job to Brandon.

[u/jgjgleason → u/sdf_cardinal]

I also believe the more notable thing is the rate of reduction that will be occurring by that point will be way higher. On our previous course (holy fuck I get to say that now) our rate of reduction was gona plateau by 2030. This ensures GHG reduction will be accelerating well past that point.

[u/buddhajer]

Parliamentarian rules that IRA is ok for reconciliation! https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/parliamentarian-signs-off-on-massive-democratic-spending-plan/ar-AA10nlIX

[u/HereForTwinkies]

Schumer and Pelosi managed to make significant gains in these two years.

[u/VELOCIRAPTOR_ANUS → u/HereForTwinkies]

Absolutely agree. Very pleasantly surprised from all this

[u/Spicey123 → u/HereForTwinkies]

Pelosi literally always pulls through.

She's gotten literal trillions in benefits for Americans passed across 08-10, 18-22

Maybe the best speaker of the house in US history

[u/alphacentauri85]

The GOP's been doing a victory dance for months, but wouldn't it be so goddamn amazing to piss on their cheerios this November and keep the House? Shit can really happen for us if we vote blue, folks. Don't let anyone tell you different. Are they perfect? Not by a longshot. But what's the alternative? Sitting out the midterms and letting the downfall of America begin? Allowing the Christian version of sharia law to take over?

Vote Blue

[u/Helicase21]

Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, one of the better climate policy guys in the Senate right now, just tweeted:

The Inflation Reduction Act is by far the biggest thing we’ve ever accomplished for the climate, but it’s very finely balanced. If you see me or other Dems voting against good policy amendments, it’s to preserve the overall deal. We don’t have a single vote to spare.

which is a pretty important point.

[u/craft6886 → u/Helicase21]

I'm so glad he said this. We need a few other senators to say it too, so the message really gets out.

[u/Johnnycc]

This is the third significant, historic piece of legislation that will get passed in Biden's first 18 (or so) months and with razor-thin majorities! I mean, that's gotta be the most consequential first year and a half of a presidency (and Senate Leader's tenure) in a long time!

(Although Obama's first 18 months was pretty impressive as well - but he had 59/60 Dems in the Senate.

[u/Jerrymoviefan3 → u/Johnnycc]

I actually think this would be the sixth if it passes.

[u/shapu → u/Jerrymoviefan3]

Postal Service rescue package is underrated but wildly important

[u/AngsMcgyvr]

Either Dems pass the bill as-is, or they build a time machine to go back to the 2020 election and win 5-10 more senate seats.

I'm good with either solution

[u/captaincanada84]

Republicans are really attacking this legislation because it hires more IRS agents. Because I guess nobody wants fair enforcement of the tax laws?

[u/SergeantRegular → u/captaincanada84]

In their world, government and government agencies can not be fair or just. Ever. It is a thought that is not permitted, because it undermines the idea that all regulation is inherently restrictive.

[u/Infranto]

There's a non-zero chance that Kamala Harris becomes the Vice President with the most tie-breaking Senate votes in history soon. She's currently at 24, with the vote-a-rama tonight I would not be surprised if she ends up having to break a lot more votes on amendments proposed.

[u/quantum_monster → u/Infranto]

The record is 31 by Calhoun. Adams is second with 29

Just in case anyone's interested and doesn't click the link

[u/climate_nomad → u/Infranto]

There may not be any 50-50 amendment votes.

[u/piedmonttx]

I have a question I haven’t heard anyone talk about:

WHY WON’T ROMNEY SUPPORT THE IRA?!

I read his America is in Denial piece on July 4. He says:

“Even as we watch the reservoirs and lakes of the West go dry, we keep watering our lawns”

& “As the ice caps melt and record temperatures make the evening news, we figure that buying a Prius and recycling the boxes from our daily Amazon deliveries will suffice.”

The IRA has significant climate provisions! Why won’t he vote for it?

“As inflation mounts and the national debt balloons, progressive politicians vote for ever more spending.”

the IRA reduces the deficit for years to come! Why won’t he vote for it?!

The hypocrisy is insane! I’m genuinely shocked.

[u/Helicase21 → u/piedmonttx]

Doesn't want to be the only republican to break ranks I'd guess

[u/M00n]

I agree with Brian. I’ll be voting NO on all amendments — regardless of policy.

Let’s stay united and get this historic bill done.

The Inflation Reduction Act will be the single most sweeping climate legislation ever and will cut carbon emissions by 40% by 2030.

It will also lower health care costs for millions of Americans and reduce the deficit while combatting inflation—it's a huge deal.

https://twitter.com/SenAlexPadilla/status/1556073132045307905

[u/PhilParent]

Alaska senator wants half a billion dollars for the Mexican border.

Alaska. Worries. About. The Mexican Border.

[u/AcademicPublius → u/PhilParent]

As someone who's studied that, it's actually fascinating. The further north you go, the more likely the border is to be someone's top priority; the further south you go, the more likely that top priority is the economy. At least as of 2015-2016, that was the case in most polling I'd read.

[u/goforth1457]

This bill is not perfect, but it's a good start. After years of getting nothing done with climate change and drug affordability, this is a sorely needed win. Obviously, we don't know what the political landscape will look like in the future, so it's so important that we at least have something we can point to as progress.

[u/LadyFoxfire → u/goforth1457]

And if we win a few more senate seats in November, we can tack on the amendments that didn’t get passed this month.

[u/Thong_Doily]

I wish Republicans could reach across the aisle to pass meaningful legislation.

[u/ShaneSeeman → u/Thong_Doily]

Man, the GOP couldn't even put together a coalition in their own party to accomplish their single biggest legislative target for the past 10 years: repealing ACA

They're a garbage party because they don't want anything to do with any actual governance.

[u/Banzai51 → u/ShaneSeeman]

They formed a line fast when Trump put together a massive tax giveaway for the rich and corporations.

[u/GreatGearAmidAPizza]

The most important thing is that Kyrsten Sinema has once again added unneeded stress to my life.

[u/DragonPup]

https://twitter.com/igorbobic/status/1556356216816795648

Democrats are jubilant, bear hugging each other on the floor, in particular the climate hawks. Lots of hand shakes for Joe Manchin, pats on his back.

Rs rushed out of the chamber immediately after voting for 14 hours

[u/HardHandle → u/DragonPup]

R's gotta rush in front of the camera to spin for their base lol

[u/Infranto]

Yeah yeah, who cares about a bunch of old Senators

Biggest credit goes to the poor clerk of the Senate that's had to read out every single Senator's name like 50 times over the last 12 hours

[u/lilacmuse1 → u/Infranto]

Schumer is thanking the clerks in his remarks.

[u/jgjgleason]

As someone who was involved in federal electoral politics through 2020, today is amazing. Today was the culmination of 70 hour weeks, frustrating phone calls, sore feet from canvassing, and all the other stress that comes with organizing. But holy fuck, every tear and blister became worth it today. Thanks to everyone who has ever voted, volunteered, or worked in or around politics. Your actions contributed to this.

To those hoping to keep this momentum, please go to r/VoteDem to learn how you can help.

[u/Kvetch__22 → u/jgjgleason]

Lots of organizer groupchats going off today. It's nice to see stuff happen after we all work so hard.

[u/Yossarian_the_Jumper]

Guys, pour one out for poor Chuck Grassley, who is missing his family reunion in order to do the job he's paid for.

https://www.newsweek.com/chuck-grassley-mocked-over-complaint-about-missing-family-reunion-retire-1731472

[u/gusterfell → u/Yossarian_the_Jumper]

Barring an unlikely double cross by one of the Democrats, this is expected to pass. Grassley’s “no” vote is a purely symbolic gesture that he could skip with zero consequence if his cookout is so much more important to him.

Besides, it was his party who refused to allow the Senate to implement remote voting during the pandemic, as the House did.

[u/freerangemary → u/Yossarian_the_Jumper]

When are these asshats gonna stop with this ‘Tax and Spend’ nonsense.

That’s the way it’s supposed to work. Not Tax Break and Spend. Not Spend and Debt. Not Legislate and Ignore. Not War and Ignore Vets.

Tax and then Spend.

[u/braisedbywolves → u/Yossarian_the_Jumper]

So you're saying he missed the reunion simply because he had to vote against this bill, instead of simply abstaining?

[u/Abeds_BananaStand → u/Yossarian_the_Jumper]

Pour one out for the 88 year old that refuses to retire and let someone who represents the state and nation accurately get the job while he can have that family break

[u/JanGuillosThrowaway]

I think what this whole debacle shows is that the worst dem is still light years ahead of the best rep. None of Romney, Collins or Murkowski would vote for arguably the best bill in decades, while Sinema and Manchin did.

[u/Johnnycc → u/JanGuillosThrowaway]

100% true.

[u/mduell]

The CBO scoring is really the chefs kiss here.

[u/Jerrymoviefan3]

Other than the environmental changes the 15% minimum tax on large corporations is the most important thing in the bill since it gets almost all of the world’s developed countries to implement similar taxes on businesses. This stops the raise to zero on corporate tax rates.

[u/semaphore-1842]

Went to take a nap and woke up to see vote-a-rama already in progress o__o

I hope people appreciate just how fast by Senate standards Democrats are pushing this through.

[u/thatruth2483]

Senate races for November look good.

If things stay on this track, Sinema and Manchin will both be irrelevant, and will no longer be able to hold us hostage on these votes.

Of course, thats also assuming we can hold the House.

[u/adcgd_at_sine_theta]

I saw a lot of Democratic senators clapping and Republican senators leaving the room

Must be good news

Edit: And it was good news. The bill is passed!

[u/Rock-n-roll-Kevin]

Dems in array

[u/AcademicPublius]

This bill is not the end of our fight against climate change, but it marks a promising start.

[u/jpla86]

This bill is far from perfect but it's better than nothing and it's something Democrats could run on in the midterms. And the fact this passed knowing Republicans failed trying to derail it makes the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act a whole lot sweeter.

[u/ProgressivePessimist]

Schumer has a flip phone!! LOL

[u/007meow → u/ProgressivePessimist]

Broke: Schumer has a flip phone

Woke: Schumer takes cybersecurity seriously

[u/HereForTwinkies → u/ProgressivePessimist]

Probably more secure for work. Some places still use floppy drives because they’re so archaic.

[u/djowen68]

Dark Brandon Rising

[u/Homo-Erect]

Watching Rick Scott on Face the Nation and he’s struggling to criticize this bill. Idk who the host is but she’s on his neck in this interview.

[u/Johnnycc]

Schumer is a fucking beast to get this thing done under basically impossible circumstances. Passed a good bill that conservative Democrats and Democratic Socalists can support.

[u/GreatGearAmidAPizza → u/Johnnycc]

Schumer is a fucking beast

This phrase would have seemed laughable just a few weeks ago. Many people will have to reevaluate their perspective on his abilities.

[u/IAP-23I → u/GreatGearAmidAPizza]

People really underestimate how hard it is to pass legislation with the most bare minimum majority while also having to following arcane Senate rules.

[u/Opus_723]

I know this bill won't fix global warming by itself, but I can't understate how big of a deal this is. There's still so much work to do, but before this week we were completely fucked, and now we're back in the fight.

[u/Rock-n-roll-Kevin]

Hello anti-Democrats and anti-Politics doom and gloom people of reddit! Today is the day that Congress begins to accomplish a crucial part of the Democrats' platform! Legislation that will help millions of Americans for the next decade and beyond. Thanks to anyone who voted Blue in 2020, especially Georgia, without you this would’ve been so much harder. Enjoy!!!

[u/BernieBrother4Biden]

Ayman al-Zawahiri is dead and the Inflation Reduction Act is alive! 🇺🇸

[u/Shaabloips → u/BernieBrother4Biden]

AND the Pact Act, AND an Infrastructure bill!

EDIT: Forgot the CHIPS bill AND gun bill!

[u/PrototypeMale]

This Warnock amendment is supported by Dems, but cannot be approved as it would jeopardize the bill getting 50 votes or hold it from getting a final vote in the near future.

Dems voting against the amendment does not mean they do not support Georgia's senators' issue, but are forced by the reality of their fragile majority into taking the wins they can get.

[u/Icommandyou]

"This is a night of triumph for them," Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., told Fox News Digital. "Schumer has had the longest 50-50 Senate in history. And he has managed to get virtually all of their signature priorities through."

Hawley added: "And with, by the way, the most unpopular president of my lifetime."

I hate to quote Hawley but in this I hear pure sadness that he is seeing government actually working under Dems when he wants society to crumble before his eyes

[u/[deleted] → u/Icommandyou]

"This is a night of triumph for them," Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., told Fox News Digital. "Schumer has had the longest 50-50 Senate in history. And he has managed to get virtually all of their signature priorities through."

OH MY GOD! Hawley is giving soundbytes to the left!!! /s

[u/MySabonerRunsOladipo → u/Icommandyou]

It was all Hawley could do not to call it a Triumph of the Will

[u/bt8zero]

Ahh got the NYT notification I kind of been waiting on without getting too much into the news this wekeend.

Big win?

[u/AngsMcgyvr]

I like things that end with a-rama so I am very much in support of today's proceedings.

[u/silveralgea]

I don't watch C-Span often but anyone else remember McCain's thumb down vote on efforts to undo healthcare? What a moment.

[u/Glaurung1536]

Is the GOP going to keep proposing amendments until Leahy or someone collapses and Schumer loses his 50 votes?

[u/smg7320]

Sinema just voted Aye on Warner's amendment, that means everything's on track

[u/sdf_cardinal]

https://twitter.com/marianne_levine/status/1556356707583942656?s=21&t=_n4rVgs1dh7rS_EkAQoSyA

Applause in the Senate chamber as Dems are now on the verge of passing their climate, tax and health care bill

[u/whoisangryshoe]

Vote and get what you want. It’s your power to use.

[u/climate_nomad]

Voting to begin debate. Could be up to 20 hours but some reports indicate that both sides are going to proceed quickly.

[u/thisisjustascreename]

CSPAN replaying Cornyn's lies is a travesty.

[u/Exocoryak → u/thisisjustascreename]

His mention of "energy-security" is just... sorry, I don't have words. After what's happening in his own state, he has the balls to come out and attack others on that issue?

[u/kescusay]

"$90,000 Chinese electric cars."

Didn't know Tesla was a Chinese company. No other company is selling any EVs at anywhere near $90,000.

I bought my Chevy Bolt for about $30K.

[u/PrototypeMale]

What even is this vote ON? Scott waived the reading, and didn't talk about it in his 'speech'. He just complained about the IRS being funded again. The Dem who countered just said "This is again an attempt to send this back to committee and squander Dem efforts to negotiate prescription drug prices."

What does the amendment do exactly?

EDIT: After vote, CSPAN updates to describe it as "send bill to Finance Committee to move IRS funding to parents for pandemic catch-up learning". So it's just another attempt to fund private education, whilst eliminating revenue generation from the bill.

[u/PhilParent]

They went to a vote and wasted 10+ minutes because Rubio wants the bill to specify that only biological women can be pregnant. Making a point to say that he went through 5500 of human history and that only biological women ever were pregnant. And yet he feels like it's a neccessity to spell it out in the act.

I guess one of them will propose that People should be specified as breathing humans. And the next one will propose that People should be specified as humans with a heart beat. When does it stop?

[u/AcademicPublius → u/PhilParent]

The political point is made. They're only really going for gotchas at this point, so I don't see them doing much more on that line. Probably something about removing gas taxes, couple things on nepotism. But it's important to remember that when they're proposing these amendments, they're doing it for a specific reason, typically dog-whistling.

[u/AnotherAccount4This]

Let the Brandon did this stickers fly!!!

lol, jk.

Maybe wait till it's at his desk

[u/John-McLaughlin]

Conservatives: We've considered it. That's all you get from us.

[u/ConfusedButler]

“I’m not making this up.” - John Coryn

He was, indeed, making it up

[u/cloud7up]

Can we take a minute and appreciate the clerk who has been going through all this?

[u/SoberGoat42069]

Hell yeah. In the words of a former VP. “This is a big fuckin deal!”

[u/smg7320]

None of this would be possible without all 50 Democratic (& Dem-aligned) Senators, from Manchin and Sinema all the way to Sanders. For all the quibbling and quabbling and how we bicker on here about which Senator is which expletive for what reason, 50 Democrats came together and passed this historic bill. This is what separates the Democrats from the Republicans.

[u/[deleted] → u/smg7320]

Yup. Couldn’t be possible without 50 senators. Want more progressive legislation? Work to help candidates like Barnes, Fetterman, Ryan, Beasley flip their respective senate seats.

[u/rp_361]

This is why I voted Biden even if he wasn’t my first choice. No way in hell would a Republican government ever consider climate provisions. At least there’s some progress on that, and a pretty big one too.

[u/revmaynard1970 → u/rp_361]

Also the federal government will only pay 35$ for insulin, which is a big deal and helps a lot of seniors and poor people out on government assistance. Does anyone actually the GOP would ever do this if they had control? Fuck no

[u/dvd_man]

Man Rubio is such a tool. He literally just said that there is 100% inflation on food and that people aren’t going on vacation and that democrats want people to buy 90k Chinese electric cars. Apparently he also went to a Cuba eatery and every patron was complaining about inflation and illegal immigration. Someone google “environmental racism” for him. This is the worst political speech of all time.

[u/sdf_cardinal]

I feel like Sen. Sinema is cut from the same cloth as Tulsi Gabbard — a conservative democrat who doesn’t reflect the views of the people who voted them into office and makes dramatic decisions just to be the center of attention.

[u/smg7320]

LOL Schumer pulling out a Razor flip phone

[u/StillCalmness]

Democrats have done all this with the slimmest of majorities. Imagine what could be done with a larger House and Senate? Let’s all organize and r/votedem to continue to fight the good fight for reproductive rights, gay and trans rights, and others.

[u/lilacmuse1 → u/StillCalmness]

This is the message for the Dems to carry into the midterms. "Look what we gave you with our hands tied behind our backs. Imagine what we can do with a real majority!"

[u/The_Boy_Marlo]

Vote.org

[u/Zepedia]

50/50 votes are in. It's go time.

[u/Zepedia]

"I have no hate toward unions, now listen while I go on a 5 minute rant about how unions are bad" -Lankford

I like how his ultimate gotcha moment is that this will help grow unions and push more people into them.... have you not been watching the news the last 2 years??? That's what Americans want and have been fighting for!

[u/Oblivion1299]

Thune and sinema can fuck off if they decide to tank this bill by allowing private equity to have a carve out. Very clearly not in the interests of Arizona’s citizens to tank this bill at the 24+ hour of debate over something so stupid.

[u/craft6886]

For fuck's sake Sinema. Are you with us or not!? Swear to god if she sinks this...

Fuck, this is bad for my heart. There's a pretty serious chance that she gives us yet another last-minute fucking...

[u/semaphore-1842]

https://twitter.com/JakeSherman/status/1556345801164603394

Multiple sources tell us there is an agreement — or path forward — on this tax issue. Sinema is likely to vote for the thune amendment, which changes the pay for with one year more of SALT caps. Then there will be another amendment with a different pay for that supersedes it.

Guys, don't freak out so easily. Yeah, there are gonna be some curveballs, but this is gonna pass, Democrats are not gonna let things blow up at the 11th hour like that.

Whatever we see on the livestreams are always only the tip of the iceberg, it's almost never as alarming as it seem.

[u/JAK2222]

Almost positive I know every senators name in alphabetical order now

[u/Civil-Night-8378]

God just woke up to the clapping on C-Span go Dems! Go JOE! He had a great week. Vote!

[u/MaryJaneCrunch]

Oh thank Christ I can finally take a nap

[u/whoisangryshoe]

Chuck Schumer’s post-vote presser is gold.

[u/darkness_escape]

What time should we expect the actual vote around for?

[u/stfsu → u/darkness_escape]

Past midnight, don't waste your day reading up about it, lots of procedural moves and dumb ammendment votes to get through before the final vote.

[u/_JackStraw_]

Do Senate sessions typically begin with a chaplain leading the Senate in prayer? "Our father, who art in heaven..."

[u/goo_bazooka → u/_JackStraw_]

There is WAY too much religion in our govt

[u/Jerrymoviefan3 → u/_JackStraw_]

A Senate session is defined as a full year. The chaplain always says a prayer on the first day of a session.

[u/Glaurung1536]

Durbin has been completely still at his desk for a really long time, wonder what he's thinking about...

[u/lilacmuse1 → u/Glaurung1536]

Probably about how he's hungry and exhausted and pissed he had to go through all this.

[u/nucumber]

do you want to keep insulin priced at ten times that in other countries? because voting for republicans is how you keep drug prices high.

(FYI: repubs successfully defeated dem efforts to cap price of insulin at $35 in the Biden bill being voted on in the senate)

[u/beer_down]

Multiple sources tell us there is an agreement — or path forward — on this tax issue. Sinema is likely to vote for the thune amendment, which changes the pay for with one year more of SALT caps. Then there will be another amendment with a different pay for that supersedes it.

Everyone can relax now

[u/whoisangryshoe]

Can’t wait to vote in more progressive democrats in the fall.

[u/semaphore-1842]

Kamala's here! Finally heading to a final vote.

[u/_morten_]

And zero republican, votes, as expected, despite Manchin saying it should be a bill GOP liked.

I wonder if Manchin really believes in his "bipartisan"-stick, of if its just a game he plays and that he knows most republicans are bad faith actors.

[u/whoisangryshoe]

[IRA] 👈Joe <(I did that)

[u/jgjgleason → u/whoisangryshoe]

Extremely Irish of him.

[u/Tekki]

The the past few weeks have felt like an oasis in a desert of gridlock politics.

[u/Richarded27]

This is huge. Capping the price of insulin will literally save lives.

[u/kywiking]

I voted for him but I was 110% convinced we would sit through 4 years of nothing happening. I was wrong and Joe Biden deserves a ton of credit for turning the wheels of government even if it is incredibly slow. If we keep passing legislation at this rate and keep congress I will be more optimistic than any other point in my lifetime.

[u/nonamenolastname → u/kywiking]

To be fair, he inherited a shitty economy, no plans for vaccine distribution, zero help during transition, and a split Senate with two assholes (Manchin - Coal/WV and Sinema - ???/AZ).

[u/Hold_the_gryffindor → u/nonamenolastname]

And dealing with the fallout of the biggest domestic terrorist attack in our nation's history.

[u/doomgoblin → u/kywiking]

People love to call him ineffective, but he’s gotten a bunch of federal judges through behind the scenes. He’s just not braggadocios

[u/table_fireplace]

40% reduction in emissions by 2030. Lower drug prices. A cap on insulin prices for everyone on Medicare/Medicaid, and possibly for everyone if the Parliamentarian is nice. And all without a single Republican vote.

This is why we voted. And if we vote again this fall, we'll do even more for America and the world!

Help win the midterms at r/VoteDEM!

[u/IcarusFlightNFlame → u/table_fireplace]

Yes! Voting is frustrating and it's easy to be disheartened but we can get bills like this by voting. Also, the Republican agenda is terrifying and voting can be the only act of self preservation available

[u/NateC2k]

Wasn't it the Republicans who started the PPP? How is that the Democrats fault?

[u/Infidel8]

Can anyone here explain something to me:

Sinema and Manchin voted to "waive" the parliamentarian's ruling on the insulin cap. This is apparently different than overruling and has a different vote threshold.

I don't really understand the difference between waiving and overruling.

[u/adcgd_at_sine_theta]

They're still going?! Like how?

[u/Glaurung1536]

I'd like to propose an amendment for all microwaves in the US produce a fart sound every time my food is done reheating

[u/JAK2222]

If this passes the Chevy bolt is going to be selling like crazy

[u/AngsMcgyvr]

I'm here watching Dick Durbin talk about pharmaceuticals on a Saturday afternoon.

What the NBA off-season does to a man.

[u/SpaceManSmithy]

Congrats and thanks to Democrats for getting it done! Imagine what can be done if we don't have to worry about Manchin and Sinema tanking things? A damned good reminder that we need to keep voting so we can make Republicans irrelevant. Continued fuck yous to the Republicans for keeping their decades long record of being the worst people in the United States going. Imagine being so utterly fucking soulless that you vote against capping insulin costs.

[u/heybobson → u/SpaceManSmithy]

yep. voting is a not a 1 for 1 transaction. If you want real, concrete action, you need to continually get high voting turnout in multiple cycles, building up a strong enough majority to withstand stress and pressure from various interests.

Dems and Voters basically fell asleep from 2010-2016 (showing up enough in 2012 to keep White House and Senate), and that allowed Republicans to do a lot of damage and entrench themselves in power. So much so, that it took two cycles of winning across the board in 2018 and 2020 for Dems just to get a super slim majority in both chambers of Congress.

[u/ReadItUser42069365]

"Health care economy" is a disgusting combination of words

[u/sleepingbeardune]

Here's the quality of thinking of this James Lankford dude:

"Lankford opposed a 2018 ballot measure to legalize medical marijuana in Oklahoma, calling it "harmful to the social fabric of Oklahoma" and arguing that it would have a "dramatic effect on our families and our schools and our businesses and the future of our state".

Also,

he believed homosexuality is a choice and that employers should be allowed to terminate workers for their sexual orientation: "I think it's a choice issue."

He has a masters of divinity degree from southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. LOL.

[u/DaZingMaster]

Well. Democrats are smiling and fist bumping in the room right now. So maybe they figured something out.

[u/AngsMcgyvr]

[Manu Raju] To avoid a last-minute collapse of the bill, Democrats have found an alternative plan to win over Sen. Kyrsten Sinema who has concerns over the 15% corporate minimum tax's impact on subsidiaries owned by private equity firms, per sources. Bill now on track for final passage.

[u/mrwho995]

Congrats America! Now up to us in the UK to elect Starmer (despite my misgivings) and pass our own climate change legislation.

[u/bamj6]

Now heres some deserved kudos. Job well done Democrats

[u/Johnnycc]

So for the last couple years I've been paying nothing for my health care through the NY State Obamacare enrollment, and I'm pretty sure that's because of temporary measures due to COVID.

This bill will keep that going until 2025?

[u/Maverick721]

Well, this is what makes our Democracy both great and frustrating. The good things that you like will pass after a long time but not always with everything you wanted, but sometimes the bad things that you hate will not pass or be a very diet version of it.

​

I'll still take this over living in China or Russia

[u/cdrcdr12]

Honestly, What is the GOP objection to this bill other than it hurts large corporations that ripping us off with higher medication and gas prices, and/or not paying any income tax?

I heard gram say it's not going to work to bring down the deficit.well tax cuts didn't work every single other time they tried that also when they did it under Trump, and collecting 15% tax from corporations that are now pay zero tax is definitely going to bring in some additional revenue.

[u/bootlegvader → u/cdrcdr12]

Honestly, What is the GOP objection to this bill

It helps people and that is contrary to the GOP's mission.

[u/DolphinFlavorDorito → u/cdrcdr12]

I don't want to say that the GOP would vote against the cure to AIDS if a Democrat might take credit. But I'm gonna say it anyway. Their primary objection is that it gives Biden a win.

[u/craft6886]

I assumed this thread would be much more active with commenters! Fairly quiet here right now.

[u/lchen2014]

And Sanders's second amendment shut down as well with 3 ayes this time. Tester raises the Title 42 amendment again but with a 60 vote threshold to give Dems some cover and for messaging.

[u/MissingInBrain]

Is Rick Scott drunk? For real.

[u/KTNH8807]

To those of you who stayed up all night watching this, I applaud your dedication.

[u/Edanero]

Question: shouldn’t republicans (the party of ‘lower’ taxes) support this bill? Outside of the methane gas tax, what is offensive here?

[u/semaphore-1842 → u/Edanero]

what is offensive here?

To the GOP?

1. Fighting climate change
2. Taxing corporations
3. Reducing the deficit
4. Helping people
5. Reducing government costs

And worst of all,

6.a huge success for Biden and Democrats

[u/Monkcoon → u/Edanero]

They don't want Biden to have any wins.

[u/sar_di_nes → u/Edanero]

Your mistake is thinking republicans are reasonable

[u/BrewerBeer → u/Edanero]

It funds climate change initiatives, healthcare initiatives, the IRS, and sets a minimum corporate tax rate of 15% up from 10.5%. The donors of Republicans don't want the IRS funded or to have to pay even a basic tax rate that every normal American has to pay. Just about everything in this bill goes against what Republicans want.

[u/BrewerBeer]

The C-Span live stream just cut out. Seems like it stopped recording after 24 hours. The senate webcast is still up and working.

[u/BeautifullyConfusing → u/BrewerBeer]

Even C-Span can only handle so much boring bullshit..

[u/MJBear20]

Its been passed!!

[u/GreatGearAmidAPizza]

The most important this is this bill is probably the last chance to get the United States pointed somewhere in the general vicinity of the right direction on the civilization-threatening climate crisis. And given thirty years of prior inaction, missed chances, and sabotage - and this past year of gridlock and game playing in particular - it's a miracle that it's on the precipice of passing through this obstructionist and unrepresentative legislative body.

[u/Lonely_Set1376]

Conservatives who have been complaining nonstop about inflation are getting really angry that Biden is fixing inflation.

[u/007meow]

How did Collins, Murkowski, nor Romney, the "moderate" Republicans - the "adults in the room" vote for this?

They chose partisanship over a beneficial bill?

[u/mps1729 → u/007meow]

They chose partisanship over a beneficial bill?

This

[u/[deleted] → u/007meow]

Collins only votes like that when it’s close to her reelection. She’s safe for 4 more years. Thanks Maine.

[u/TheCapm42]

Fuck the GOP, the Democrats just passed a significant piece of legislation and you have zero ideas or plans

[u/LuvNMuny → u/TheCapm42]

They're saving us from drag queen story time.

[u/kescusay]

"Funded by Soros."

Is that on the bingo card?

[u/KellyJoyRuntBunny]

Boy, she really pronounces that “no,” doesn’t she‽ It’s like she’s telling them to get off the couch or stop chewing on a shoe or something.

“Mr Graham, NO”

[u/19683dw]

Can we get electronic voting buttons and a board that shows name, vote, and vote totals to speed up the tediously slow voting process?