Senate Democrats unveil $3.5 trillion budget proposal

President Joe Biden is set to meet with the Senate Democratic caucus Wednesday to shore up support for his sweeping infrastructure and economic investment goals, hours after the lawmakers announced they had reached an agreement on a multitrillion-dollar budget resolution.

That budget accord, which would spend $3.5 trillion over the next decade, will be added to the roughly $600 billion in new spending contained in a bipartisan infrastructure plan, Democrats said Tuesday night.

They said the budget plan is fully paid for, and that it would expand Medicare coverage for dental, vision and hearing benefits — two features that could help sway moderate and progressive Democrats to back it.

At a closed-door caucus lunch at the Capitol on Wednesday, Biden will rally Democrats and “lead us on to getting this wonderful plan,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted Wednesday morning that the president will “continue making the case for the duel track approach to build the economy back better by investing in infrastructure, protecting our climate, and supporting the next generation of workers and families.”

She noted in a follow-up that she misspelled the word “dual.”

Democratic leaders hope to push versions of the resolution through the House and Senate before lawmakers leave Washington for the August recess.

But they acknowledged Tuesday night that their work is cut out for them because the budget plan offers only a broad outline on spending that would have to be fleshed out in subsequent legislation.

“We know we have a long road to go,” Schumer said.

“I make no illusions how challenging this is going to be,” said Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., vice chair of the caucus.

The resolution, if approved, would pave the way for Democrats to pass a later spending bill in the Senate through the so-called budget reconciliation process. That means Democrats would need only a simple majority in Senate — which is evenly divided 50-50 with Republicans — rather than the 60 votes that the GOP could demand through the filibuster rules.

If all 50 Senate Democrats back such a bill, they could pass it even with no Republican support, as Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris could cast the tie-breaking vote.

Senate Democratic leaders are working to satisfy both the moderates in the caucus, who have expressed unease about funding the mammoth spending plans, and the progressives who have called for much more money to be spent.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, whom Schumer credited with leading the charge to include expanded Medicare coverage in the budget resolution, and other progressives had initially pushed for a $6 trillion price limit for a budget. Biden had proposed less than $5 trillion.

Moderate Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., expressed a starkly different sentiment Tuesday, telling reporters, “I think everything should be paid for. We’ve put enough free money out.”

In a statement Wednesday morning, Manchin said he looks forward to reviewing the agreement crafted by the Senate Budget Committee.

“I’m also very interested in how this proposal is paid for and how it enables us to remain globally competitive,” he said. “I will reserve any final judgment until I’ve had the opportunity to thoroughly evaluate the proposal.”

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[HamburgerMolester]

Hasnt even been a year and they want to spend more money than even exists.

[lorenzol]

How in the hell are Americans going to pay for this

[barrysmith]

So the real question here is how much money will be in their envelope that is slid under their door at their homes at midnight? Ever wonder how many politicians have become multimillionaires just on their salary? Every politician should be required to provide a public financial audit every year. And oh yeh…… throw in term limits too.

[ntran]

Just when you thought inflation was getting bad…

[ronniepatton]

Coming to a theater near you The DOMINO THEORY! Otherwise known as THE ECONOMIC CRASH!

[fadingwolf]

This is the punch line to "What happens when corrupt politicians get their hands on public money?" - only the joke isn't funny.

[jasona]

Why dont you mention what the debt ceiling is?....and its all paid for with made up numbers who no one stands by? Or can even say how much they plan on collecting?

[lespantalons]

“Unclear what the net cost will be”

You got to be joking.

[newellpickett]

Y’all where the hell they getting these trillions of dollars from lately?

[snipman]

"GIVE me control of a nation's money supply, and I care not who makes its laws"
- Mayer Amschel Rothschild

[DoorTrash]

Inflation is a huge tax on those making less than 400K a year

[mmz]

$1.9 trillion, $2.4 trillion, $3.5 trillion ...ECT, With all this wasteful Democratic spending, we are all witnessing the collapse of The United States of America

[dingo]

This is ridiculous. It's like watching a spoiled kid with daddy's credit card.

[chodkowski]

Inflation hit over 5% this month. Keep spending money you don’t have.

[itsmatt]

Senate Democrats should come up with a $3.5T debt elimination plan instead

[thosenerdymetalguys]

This is the problem with allowing elected individuals to spend money that doesn’t belong to them.

[ckoritko]

Sheer idiocy! Even if this had merit, the proposed “source” of the funds would inevitably trickle down to increased costs for the average citizen. This is ridiculous. “Money doesn’t grow on trees.”

[_ipsissimus_]

yes lets print even more money. its not like inflation was over 5% this last month or anything.

[idres]

This is like me buying a $3 million dollar home, and trying to pay the mortgage on a $40k/year

[tomo]

$50 bread is going to be so much more delicious than $3 bread. Can't wait!