More than a week ago, I spent more than 2 hours writing an article about how genius reporter EJ Dionne, whom I believe came to Washington in the Buchanan administration, and melted into the woodwork like butter into warm toast, was bullish on the Democrats infrastructure deal. If you don’t remember that one, it’s because the stupid site chewed up my article and spit it out in a pissy fit. Such is the life of a blogger.
In short, Dionne was bullish simply because, as an actual big tent party, the Democrats had set themselves up for success. In the reconciliation process, the bills will originate in the Budget Committees of both chambers. And therein lies the genius.
In the Senate, they made Bernie Sanders, by far the most progressive Democrat as the chair, and on the far side, they put Mark warner of Virginia, one of the most moderate Democrats. And in the middle, they put every color of the rainbow in between. The Democrats in the House set up the Budget Committee the same way. Sanders is on Schumer’s Leadership Team with Manchin, which meets weekly. They can negotiate over the table every week instead of talking past each in media interviews. House Progressive Caucus chair Pramila Jayapal has confirmed that Sanders has been in frequent contact with her as he negotiated the Senate outline. Little wonder the Democrats in both chambers are in wide agreement on the general framework of the Senate bill.
Here’s where Schumer’s skill comes into play. Schumer has called for a procedural vote on the floor on Wednesday for the bipartisan infrastructure bill to proceed to debate. This will require a 60 vote threshold to proceed. Schumer has also called for a Wednesday deadline for all 50 Democrats to sign onto the framework of the reconciliation bill. If there are any red lines out there, he wants to know about it by Tuesday, so they can deal with it.
I am SO down with why Schumer is doing this. I know exactly why Chuck Schumer is manipulating the procedure. It may only be July right now, but the legislative calendar falls off of a cliff form here. Congress takes off almost the entire month of August on their summer recess, and when they reconvene after Labor Day, the federal budget and debt ceiling both have to be either approved or extended by midnight on September 30th. Then there’s the Defense act to continue paying the troops. Once you get into October, you start to bump up against extended holiday breaks for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Believe it r not, time is short.
This is why Chuck Schumer is so smart. I have long felt that this whole bipartisan infrastructure bill bullshit was a GOP construct of the GOP to keep Joe Manchin feeling like he was in the right, and stalling to run out the clock. They were never going to vote for the bill, hell, there are only 5 members from each side working on the deal, but it takes 10 GOP votes to get cloture. And now, at the 11th hour, the GOP is bitching about the Democrats wanting to give more money to the IRS to track down rich shitpokes and make them pay their fair share to pay for the infrastructure plan. Perish the thought! Can anybody say Lucy and the football?
Which is exactly why Schumer is pushing the envelope. By calling for the procedural vote on Wednesday, Schumer is calling McConnell’s hand. If McConnell wants to keep the scan going, then he will have to vote for cloture, which will allow for a clean simple 51 vote majority to pass the bill after debate. And if, as I expect, McConnell drops the hammer on the scam, the Schumer has time to react.
Chuck Schumer has already placed the Senate on notice that their August recess may well be shortened for pressing matters. If the GOP bails on the bipartisan bill, the Democrats already have the framework for a workable bill that they already agree with in place. They can enhance it if they want, or just leave it as is, and then fold it into the reconciliation bill and go to work on passing it all by themselves.
Ever since the Democrats took over unified control of government, McConnell seems to have lost a step. He seems lost in the past, where the Democrats would keep falling for the same lame old shit, and bowing to McConnell’s superiority. Schumer laughed off McConnell’s attempt to delay handing over control of the committees, and he did it publicly. And with a pool of solid, publicly popular wins in their pocket, and the popular wind in their sails, the Democrats are starting to get a strut in their step. And McConnell just doesn’t get it.
Next week figures to be critical for the two track infrastructure bills in the Senate. If the GOP votes for cloture to send the bill to the floor for debate, then they are locked into a simple majority vote for passage. If they balk and fall back on the filibuster, then they blow away once and for all Judas Joe Manchin’s bipartisanship dreams, and the Democrats can craft the best possible hard infrastructure plan to meld with the soft infrastructure plan , and move on with business. Leaving the GOP in the cold with their constituents going into 2022. Don’t touch that dial.
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And this, Murf, is why you want experienced politicians handling critical stuff like this. Yes, you still need to be sure they understand what the job expected of them is (and press them when they don’t get the memo). But much like with doctors and lawyers, when you got a good old hand working for, you got a better chance of it getting done the way you need it to.
Joe Manchin showed his hand and his phony “bipartisan” stance by going to AZ and schmoozing wealthy GOP donors. I keep wondering why he hasn’t just come out and changed parties since he’s doing nothing to promote the Dem. agenda.
Be damn grateful he hasn’t. That would mean the Senate is automatically back in Republican hands, which is the last thing we need right now. My guess is he has a lot more to lose by switching parties than by just staying where he is, at least for now. Think less with your anger, more with your brain. You’ll get further with the latter.
I was with you until those last two rude sentences. So not necessary.