The package, a dwindled version of earlier multitrillion-dollar measures that Democrats failed to advance, has become a partisan battleground over inflation, gasoline prices and other issues that polls show are driving voters.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. makes a speech ahead of senators voting to advance Democrats' climate, energy, tax bill.Democrats drove their election-year economic package toward Senate approval early Sunday, debating a measure with less ambition thanoriginal domestic vision but that touches deep-rooted party dreams of slowing global warming,moderating pharmaceutical costs and taxing immense corporations.
"It will reduce inflation. It will lower prescription drug costs. It will fight climate change. It will close tax loopholes and it will reduce and reduce the deficit,", D-N.Y., said of the package. "It will help every citizen in this country and make America a much better place." In an ordeal imposed on all budget bills like this one, the Senate descended into an hourslong "vote-a-rama" of rapid-fire amendments. Each tested Democrats' ability to hold together a compromise negotiated by Schumer, progressives, Manchin and the inscrutable centrist Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz.
Earlier this year, Democrats facing tough reelections supported such an extension, forcing the party to drop its push for COVID-19 spending when Republicans conjoined the two issues. This time, with their far larger economic legislation at stake and elections approaching, Democrats rallied against the border controls.
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