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To understand why moderate Dems like Manchin & Tester aren't really quibbling w/ the size of Biden's $1.9 trillion Covid relief plan or Dems starting the reconciliation process, you have to go back to 2017 -- when R's were the ones using reconciliation. https://www.vox.com/2021/2/4/22262467/democrats-covid-stimulus-reconciliation-biden
Moderate Dems in 2017 were not happy. They wanted to work on the GOP tax bill, but talks broke down when R's slashed the corporate tax rate.
"Honestly, it was clear the WH wanted to jam moderate Dems like me, Claire [McCaskill], and Joe Donnelly," former Sen. Heitkamp told me.
"Honestly, it was clear the WH wanted to jam moderate Dems like me, Claire [McCaskill], and Joe Donnelly," former Sen. Heitkamp told me.
Moderate Dems were completely frozen out of tax bill talks. "I’ve had no visits in my office; I’ve had no calls from Republican senators," Claire McCaskill told me in 2017.
“My god, I’ve tried to — we’ve done everything,” Manchin said then. https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/11/29/16712184/democrats-tax-reform-republicans-bipartisanship
“My god, I’ve tried to — we’ve done everything,” Manchin said then. https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/11/29/16712184/democrats-tax-reform-republicans-bipartisanship
Republican leadership had absolutely no qualms about using budget reconciliation to pass the tax bill and try to repeal the ACA -- especially if the former put moderate Dems in a tough spot in the 2018 midterms. Out of 5 red state Dems, 3 lost their seats. https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/11/29/16712184/democrats-tax-reform-republicans-bipartisanship
Democrats remember what happened in 2017 vividly. That's helping to inform their thinking to go big -- even if it means going it alone. https://www.vox.com/2021/2/4/22262467/democrats-covid-stimulus-reconciliation-biden
