President Biden on Monday pointedly declined to say if he believes his sprawling social spending package can pass Congress by Christmas — amid doubts that the Democrats’ hoped-for big-spend present can pass by then, or ever.
The House passed the sprawling bill last month — with a $2.2 trillion price tag — but centrist Senate Democrats want some provisions stripped and the party can’t afford to lose a single vote in the evenly divided upper chamber where Vice President Kamala Harris breaks ties.
Asked Monday if the bill can pass by Christmas, Biden told a reporter, “As early as we can get it. We want to get it done no matter how long it takes.”
Democrats led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York have pushed for a Christmas deadline as moderates including Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) express reservations.
Manchin reportedly has told colleagues he doubts the bill will pass this year. He’s expressed concern about the bill adding to the highest inflation in 31 years and what he calls budget gimmicks to make the cost of new programs seem lower than they actually are.
However, a senior Democratic source insisted to The Post that “the goal is still before Christmas Day, but before New Year sounds just as nice.”
“Biden’s elves here in Congress still want to wrap this up before Christmas,” another source agreed.
The Congressional Budget Office says the bill would add $367 billion in unfunded spending, but Biden argues that it would lower the cost of living, particularly for people with children.
The plan includes $555 billion for environmental programs, $400 billion to fund universal preschool and cap child care costs at 7 percent of income for most families and $200 billion to extend the enhanced child tax credit for families that earn up to $150,000 — from $2,000 to $3,000 per child, or $3,600 for those under six.
The plan also includes $150 billion for home health care for the elderly and people with disabilities through Medicaid, $150 billion for housing including 1 million new “affordable” rental units, $130 billion in new Obamacare subsidies, $90 billion in racial and gender “equity” initiatives, $40 billion for higher education grants and $35 billion to expand Medicare to include the cost of hearing aids.
The bill would increase from $10,000 to $80,000 the “SALT cap” on state and local taxes that can be deducted from federal taxes — costing an estimated $300 billion in lost federal revenue. The change was pushed by New York-area representatives but is opposed by leftists led by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
Another $206 billion in the bill would federally subsidize four weeks of paid private-sector family leave — an item that is opposed by Manchin.