President Biden’s Build Back Better Plan

President Bidens Build Back Better Plan

Before his inauguration, President Joe Biden announced his Build Back Better plan, a bill that would provide COVID-19 relief, expand welfare and social services, infrastructure, and money for reducing the impacts of climate change. Republicans have slammed the bill as costly and an expansion of the welfare state, while Democrats have said that it is necessary to help the country get through the pandemic and will help Americans get good paying jobs and reduce the cost of healthcare. Parts of the Build Back Better plan have already been passed. On March 11th, on the one year anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring the COVID-19 pandemic, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act, which was a COVID-19 relief package and was intended to help Americans get through the pandemic. President Biden’s agenda faces an uphill battle in the Senate which is dead-locked 5050 with Sen. Manchin (D-WV) and Sen. Sinema (D-AZ) demanding that their fellow Democrats revise the Build Back Better and reduce its cost. This may have a serious impact on President Biden’s already falling popularity and serious implications for Democrats’ hopes in the 2022 midterm elections. If they don’t pass this bill, then they may be seen as partisan and unable to pass their legislation. Don Beyer, the Representative of Virginia’s 8th District voted for the Build Back Better Act, saying that it would create millions of jobs for Americans and reduce the cost of healthcare. He also touted President Biden’s plan to reduce U.S. emissions as advised by climate scientists. Rep. Beyer said that the Build Back Better Act would be paid for by the wealthy and big corporations. This has been repeated by many who support Build Back Better who say that the wealthy have gained massive amounts of money while the poor have become poorer. Democrats planned to pass Build Back Better before Christmas, but with Senator Joe Machin refusing to vote, Democrats were unable to pass the bill in time for the New Year. This may have been the final nail in the coffin, as with each passing day the chances of passing Build Back Better seem to be getting slimmer. Republicans refuse to budge and Senator Machin seems unlikely to move unless the bill is changed. Added to the fact that the 2022 midterm elections are coming up, likely won’t get reelected if they can’t show what they have done and what they plan to do. According to the Washington Post, Sen. Machin sent a $1.8 trillion bill as a counteroffer to the White House before Christmas. His bill included money for Pre-K, climate solutions, and healthcare, but did not include child tax credits. He now has said that he won’t support this, due to the breakdown of negotiations. This happened after the White House said that Joe Machin was the reason why Congress was unable

By Thad Worth

Photo Credit: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

to pass the Build Back Better. Machin then appeared on Fox News criticizing the bill. Many have claimed that Manchin’s state of West Virginia desperately needs this bill. Rolling Stone reported that since many people in West Virginia are poor and would benefit the most from the bill’s healthcare and child support. Rolling Stone also stated that renewable energy could give coal miners new jobs and that by shutting down West Virginia’s coal plants that the health of many West Virginians would improve due to increased air quality. No matter what decision Senator Machin makes, it will most certainly inflame how either liberals or conservatives view him. This bill has far reaching implications, as it will increase the nation’s debt and make the federal government even more prominent in everyday Americans’ life. Despite these trying times there is only one rock that stands firm in the raging sea, and that is God.