By Eric Ham
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – On Monday, President Biden will sign into law the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, a cornerstone of the president’s agenda, in a lavish ceremony with many supporters and even a few Republicans present.
The bill provides billions for roads and bridges across the nation and much more, for instance 83 new Amtrak trains and eventually more than a hundred new rail destinations. Even onboard kitchens again.
Passed with some Republican support, not overwhelming but significant, and what polling shows to be overwhelming approval from the American public, it marks a major political win for the president. However, President Biden’s approval numbers continue to tank and those of Vice President Kamala Harris are also at historic lows.
The plan will deliver much needed resources to areas long ignored. For example, a good part of the funding will go to extending high-speed Internet into rural areas and help low-income families pay their monthly broadband bill.
The plan sets aside $14 billion to help low-income families pay for the cost of an Internet connection. Another $55 billion will go towards upgrading the nation’s water system. Toxic lead pipes will be replaced across the country along with a long awaited build-out of water infrastructure in tribal and low-income communities.
More than half of voters (56%) say they support the bipartisan package. Democratic voters lead the way with 77% approving the deal. Additionally, the bill could be a boon politically for GOP lawmakers as well. A Morning Consult poll shows that Republicans willing to collaborate with the president could potentially win points with their voters for doing so.
The six major provisions of the bill (updating road/bridges; water/sewerage projects; public transit improvements; broadband expansion; passenger/freight railway projects; and waterproofing and coastal resistance measures) enjoy 60% or better approval from all Americans.
The Biden Administration is preparing to aggressively promote and pitch the benefits of the infrastructure plan. Still, while Democrats celebrate this victory, it could be fleeting. The larger Build Back Better plan is still awaiting “scoring” from the Congressional Budget Office, a measure of how much if any it will widen the deficit.
Depending on how the nonpartisan research agency scores the bill, the $1.85 trillion BBB package could be derailed by Democrat moderates unwilling to take on so much additional debt, rejecting the White House insistence additional corporate taxes and other measures will offset the spending.
Another nasty intra-party battle among Democrats will certainly overshadow the Administration’s efforts to sell the many benefits of the bipartisan supported infrastructure legislation. House Speaker Pelsosi says it will be voted on in that chamber this week. If it passes the legislation will still undergo major changes in the Senate in the weeks ahead and its passage there is far from assured. Finally, the House has to agree to the Senate’s alterations.
As the president promotes success, failure lurks large in the background. Pressure is mounting for a reasonable CBO score of the Build Back Better plan to keep Democratic moderates in the “yea” column. Additionally, it’s unclear if House progressives will get behind what is likely to be a dramatically scaled-down version of whatever the Senate might pass. More importantly, President Biden will have to deliver on his guarantee – to personally gain support from any remaining Democratic holdouts – in order to deliver on the cornerstone of his agenda.
Right now, President Biden is hoping for a rebound in the polls. His current approval ratings are under 50% and his vice president’s numbers have fallen even further. Democrats are growing increasingly worried their congressional majorities are on borrowed time. Members of the Biden Cabinet will hit the trail to sell Build Back Better but it’s doubtful this forthcoming public relations blitz will stave off an energized and motivated opposition.
The Administration and its party have notched one much-needed win but with so much uncertainty ahead, their victory could be short-lived.
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Contact this reporter: eric@macenews.com
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