Fizzling legislative agenda leaves Democrats wondering about midterms (not enough free crap)

The Hill ^ | 5/23/22 | Amie Parnes, Morgan Chalfant

[Libloather]

Democrats once hailed Build Back Better as the policy that could help them win the midterms.

But as even the possibility of a scaled-back version of resident Biden’s signature legislation fizzles in the 50-50 Senate, some are wondering if the president will have anything comparable to campaign on as the election season inches closer.

The White House considers the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law passed last fall as a major legislative accomplishment. They also see Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill as a win. And they say the fight over some version of Build Back Better isn’t over.

But some in the party question whether those feats are enough to energize voters, particularly after Democrats spent months last year talking about lowering child care costs, paid leave and extending the now-expired temporary expansion of the child tax credit as an answer to the pressures families are feeling from inflation.

“It gives them fewer weapons in the fight to retain the control of the House and Senate going into the midterms,” said Basil Smikle, a Democratic strategist and director of the public policy program at Hunter College.

Another Democratic strategist added: “For the longest time, all they talked about was Build Back Better and how it would be this incredible thing. And guess what? It imploded, and now what do we have? Infrastructure?”

Other Democrats insist the party has plenty to tout on the campaign trail in the coming months...

**SNIP**

“I remember saying to Barack after we passed the Affordable Care Act, I said, ‘Let’s take a victory lap.’ He said, ‘We don’t have time. We don’t have time,’” Biden told the group in Portland, Ore. “But guess what? No one knew what was in it. They didn’t know why they had what they had.”

[Libloather]

Unless RATS can magically get gas down to $2 a gallon by November, I smell burnt toast.

[Mark17]

Unless RATS can magically get gas down to $2 a gallon by November, I smell burnt toast.

I think you are right, if we can stop voter fraud.

[HYPOCRACY]

I’m moving back to the US. Wherever I end up. Probably NC. If it’s before the election, I’ll volunteer as a poll watcher.

[buckalfa]

"I’m moving back to the US. Wherever I end up. Probably NC. If it’s before the election, I’ll volunteer as a poll watcher."

I applaud your intent. Yet the election irregularities do not happen at the physical polling places. Who watches the mail in ballots and ballot drop boxes.?

[vmivol00]

Don’t worry, the GOP (stupid party) will find a way to hand the Dems a win. My guess is they cave and let the Dems pass at least part of Build Back Better right before November.