
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) speaks during an interview as House Democrats work on infrastructure and spending bills on Capitol Hill on November 4, 2021 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Joshua Roberts via Getty Images)
To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) speaks during an interview as House Democrats work on infrastructure and spending bills on Capitol Hill on November 4, 2021 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Joshua Roberts via Getty Images)
Amid a series of setbacks this week, Rep. Pramila Jayapal acknowledged that progressive lawmakers are currently limited in their ability to advance a pro-working class agenda--an implicit endorsement of Sen. Joe Manchin's advice to elect more left-leaning candidates if the goal is to win transformative policies that are popular and would benefit the vast majority.
In an interview with Politico published Thursday, Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Jayapal (D-Wash.) said that her caucus has been unable to prevent right-wing Democrats from gutting the party's Build Back Better Act (BBB) because "we don't have enough control."
Biden's signature social infrastructure and climate package, approved last month by the House, is currently at risk of being killed by Manchin (D-W.Va.).
Manchin wields an enormous amount of influence because passing BBB through the filibuster-proof reconciliation process requires the support of all 50 members of the Senate Democratic Caucus. The coal profiteer also has less incentive to back the bill since the fossil fuel-friendly physical infrastructure measure he favors has already been signed into law by President Joe Biden.
As it became apparent on Wednesday that Senate Democrats would likely postpone consideration of Biden's proposal to invest $1.75 trillion over 10 years to address the climate crisis and expand the social safety net, Manchin and 41 other Democrats joined 46 Senate Republicans to pass a one-year, $778 billion military budget.
Related Content
With BBB stalled, Senate Democrats have turned their attention to a last-ditch effort to pass voting rights legislation before the end of the year. However, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.)--another one of the party's corporate-backed obstacles--dug her heels in to defend the chamber's 60-vote filibuster rule, which gives the minority party veto power over most bills, including ones aimed at neutralizing the GOP's nationwide assault on the franchise.
Because of Manchin's latest attempt to eliminate the enhanced child tax credit--a move that would push millions of kids across the U.S. back into poverty--it is possible that families with children may have just received their final monthly payment of up to $300 per child this week.
With student loan payments set to resume in February due to Biden's own intransigence, which persists despite rising inflation caused in large part by corporate price-gouging, progressive critics have warned Democrats that they are facing a potential bloodbath in next year's midterm elections.
At the same time, Manchin himself suggested in September that the only solution to the current impasse is to get more progressives into office.
"All we need to do I guess for them to get theirs," he said, "is elect more liberals."
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. Our Summer Campaign is now underway, and there’s never been a more urgent time for Common Dreams to be as vigilant as possible. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Amid a series of setbacks this week, Rep. Pramila Jayapal acknowledged that progressive lawmakers are currently limited in their ability to advance a pro-working class agenda--an implicit endorsement of Sen. Joe Manchin's advice to elect more left-leaning candidates if the goal is to win transformative policies that are popular and would benefit the vast majority.
In an interview with Politico published Thursday, Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Jayapal (D-Wash.) said that her caucus has been unable to prevent right-wing Democrats from gutting the party's Build Back Better Act (BBB) because "we don't have enough control."
Biden's signature social infrastructure and climate package, approved last month by the House, is currently at risk of being killed by Manchin (D-W.Va.).
Manchin wields an enormous amount of influence because passing BBB through the filibuster-proof reconciliation process requires the support of all 50 members of the Senate Democratic Caucus. The coal profiteer also has less incentive to back the bill since the fossil fuel-friendly physical infrastructure measure he favors has already been signed into law by President Joe Biden.
As it became apparent on Wednesday that Senate Democrats would likely postpone consideration of Biden's proposal to invest $1.75 trillion over 10 years to address the climate crisis and expand the social safety net, Manchin and 41 other Democrats joined 46 Senate Republicans to pass a one-year, $778 billion military budget.
Related Content
With BBB stalled, Senate Democrats have turned their attention to a last-ditch effort to pass voting rights legislation before the end of the year. However, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.)--another one of the party's corporate-backed obstacles--dug her heels in to defend the chamber's 60-vote filibuster rule, which gives the minority party veto power over most bills, including ones aimed at neutralizing the GOP's nationwide assault on the franchise.
Because of Manchin's latest attempt to eliminate the enhanced child tax credit--a move that would push millions of kids across the U.S. back into poverty--it is possible that families with children may have just received their final monthly payment of up to $300 per child this week.
With student loan payments set to resume in February due to Biden's own intransigence, which persists despite rising inflation caused in large part by corporate price-gouging, progressive critics have warned Democrats that they are facing a potential bloodbath in next year's midterm elections.
At the same time, Manchin himself suggested in September that the only solution to the current impasse is to get more progressives into office.
"All we need to do I guess for them to get theirs," he said, "is elect more liberals."
Amid a series of setbacks this week, Rep. Pramila Jayapal acknowledged that progressive lawmakers are currently limited in their ability to advance a pro-working class agenda--an implicit endorsement of Sen. Joe Manchin's advice to elect more left-leaning candidates if the goal is to win transformative policies that are popular and would benefit the vast majority.
In an interview with Politico published Thursday, Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Jayapal (D-Wash.) said that her caucus has been unable to prevent right-wing Democrats from gutting the party's Build Back Better Act (BBB) because "we don't have enough control."
Biden's signature social infrastructure and climate package, approved last month by the House, is currently at risk of being killed by Manchin (D-W.Va.).
Manchin wields an enormous amount of influence because passing BBB through the filibuster-proof reconciliation process requires the support of all 50 members of the Senate Democratic Caucus. The coal profiteer also has less incentive to back the bill since the fossil fuel-friendly physical infrastructure measure he favors has already been signed into law by President Joe Biden.
As it became apparent on Wednesday that Senate Democrats would likely postpone consideration of Biden's proposal to invest $1.75 trillion over 10 years to address the climate crisis and expand the social safety net, Manchin and 41 other Democrats joined 46 Senate Republicans to pass a one-year, $778 billion military budget.
Related Content
With BBB stalled, Senate Democrats have turned their attention to a last-ditch effort to pass voting rights legislation before the end of the year. However, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.)--another one of the party's corporate-backed obstacles--dug her heels in to defend the chamber's 60-vote filibuster rule, which gives the minority party veto power over most bills, including ones aimed at neutralizing the GOP's nationwide assault on the franchise.
Because of Manchin's latest attempt to eliminate the enhanced child tax credit--a move that would push millions of kids across the U.S. back into poverty--it is possible that families with children may have just received their final monthly payment of up to $300 per child this week.
With student loan payments set to resume in February due to Biden's own intransigence, which persists despite rising inflation caused in large part by corporate price-gouging, progressive critics have warned Democrats that they are facing a potential bloodbath in next year's midterm elections.
At the same time, Manchin himself suggested in September that the only solution to the current impasse is to get more progressives into office.
"All we need to do I guess for them to get theirs," he said, "is elect more liberals."