With trillions of dollars on the line and with the help of a Democratic congress, U.S. President Joe Biden is set to spend historic amounts of money on a cornucopia of projects.
Although the $4 trillion spending bill is dubbed “infrastructure,” the meaning of infrastructure has been redefined to also include such things as child care and health insurance subsidies — and unless the public protests and people start paying attention, it may very well pass the Senate without a single Republican vote. The move could come through a parliamentary rule called budget reconciliation, which allows the majority party to fast-track certain legislation “while dodging a nearly certain GOP filibuster,” Insider said.
Just 13 people — mostly lobbyists who have worked swinging doors between government jobs and their current lobbying positions — will play a huge part in how much of Biden’s plan could pass under this rule.
Because the spending bill covers such a broad range of projects, it’s being watching by what Insider called a “coalition of companies and organizations.” "Everyone has skin in the game on an infrastructure package," one of the 13, a lobbyist at EGR Group, Cachavious “Chay” English, told Insider.
Along with the $4 trillion in planned spending, the bill also has targeted tax increases in it: The president wants the corporate-tax rate raised from 21% to 28% and higher taxes on people making more than $400,000 a year.
Parts of the bill would also make union organization easier, including avenues for unions to collect dues.
SOURCE: Insider May 14, 2021