I recently wrote about the two infrastructure investment bills Congress is currently negotiating, and I wanted to give some brief updates. As you can see in the excerpt below, I mentioned that today, September 27, 2021, a vote was planned for the bipartisan infrastructure bill. That plan remains largely in place, but there have been some modifications.
Speaker Pelosi released a letter yesterday announcing the change in plans, saying:
Tomorrow, September 27, we will begin debate on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework on the Floor of the House and vote on it on Thursday, September 30, the day on which the surface transportation authorization expires.
If you want to learn more about the infrastructure bills, why there are two of them, and why it is so important that they both pass simultaneously, my article below discusses these topics at length.
I argued throughout last month’s article titled Infrastructure Investments and a Call for Solidarity that we need to pass both bills. I focused primarily on the widespread benefits and popularity of planned investments, but I did not cover another angle which also deserves consideration.
I first learned of the vote being scheduled for Thursday when I read this article from The Intercept, and it included an interesting perspective on how passing only the bipartisan bill—but not both bills—could actually be a negative outcome. While I still think both bills are positive overall, we could put our nation on—and ultimately lead the world down—the wrong path towards environmental sustainability if only one bill passes.
The article cited multiple progressive Representatives and their reticence to pass just the bipartisan bill alone, but summarized the risk of a negative outcome in the paragraph below:
That is what makes this moment different. For progressives, the choice isn’t between getting something that’s just OK and getting something that’s good. The bipartisan bill is in many ways a step backward, an actively bad piece of legislation that would make the world a worse place if not paired with the climate and social policy piece. Just spending more money on roads and bridges and fossil fuel infrastructure while the world burns isn’t half a loaf. It’s not even stale bread. It’s straight up moldy. Throw it in the compost.
Although we previously discussed how economic studies predict greater efficiency and lower commute times from such infrastructure investments, there is a real risk that we will not begin our transition away from fossil fuels soon enough if we only pass one bill. Plus, some of the environmental provisions taken out of the bipartisan bill were put back in the budget reconciliation bill. While we cannot instantly phase out all fossil fuels, we must begin the transition to a more sustainable economy, and lead the world with our example.
On the subject of implementing President Biden’s agenda, former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich recently launched his own newsletter, and he held a discussion with readers on how well they thought Congress was doing so.
Robert Reich plans to hold discussions every Wednesday and respond to readers’ comments. In his first discussion thread, Professor Reich asked readers:
…in your view, how would you rate congressional Democrats in handling Biden’s agenda so far?
I may respond to future discussion threads via Substack, so that you readers can follow along in the discussions as well, but this week I responded directly. To get an idea of what you might receive in your email inbox during future discussion threads, I included my response below.
I would highly recommend reading Robert Reich’s newsletter as well—and following along with his Office Hours discussions—but in the meantime, what are your thoughts on this question?
How well do you feel Democrats in Congress are implementing President Biden’s agenda?
First, I’d like to thank Professor Reich for holding these discussions, and everyone in the comments for sharing their thoughts.
Regarding the congressional Democrats’ handling of the Biden agenda thus far, I agree with the comments giving them a barely passing grade overall, but this average is obviously being dragged down by the obstructionist corporate Democrats. The American Rescue Plan was a good start, but even it was hindered by obstruction, and passing the Build Back Better Agenda is a necessary next step.
I commend Senator Sanders, Representative Jayapal, and others in the Progressive Caucus who are remaining firm in their insistence that both infrastructure bills must pass together. Even Speaker Pelosi deserves credit on this particular issue, despite her undermining other aspects of the agenda Biden campaigned on, such as student debt forgiveness.
However, I can’t help but suspect the messaging would be easier for supporters of both bills if the Executive Branch were leading the effort from the bully pulpit. If President Biden and Vice President Harris were constantly calling out Manchin et al by name, telling the public that they are obstructing progress for no reason but appeasing their corporate financiers, then progressives could follow their lead. Democratic leadership could help make it clear that the White House, Senate leadership, House leadership, and most Democrats in Congress are aligned with the Build Back Better Agenda, and the corporate Democrats are the radical fringe trying to undermine the agenda that people voted for.
Instead, we constantly see people like Rep. Jayapal having to reframe the conversation during interviews with corporate media, reminding everyone that progressives want both bills passed, and that it’s the corporate Democrats who are obstructing the Build Back Better Agenda. If she were able to begin the conversation picking up where Biden or Harris recently left off, and wasn’t having to reframe the issue and remind viewers how we ended up in this situation, she could instead spend more time focusing on selling the benefits of the Build Back Better Agenda and making obstructionists look foolish for opposing such great policies.
I’m trying to do my part to help educate voters about the details of the two bills, why we need both, how progressives already compromised, that voters overwhelmingly support the Build Back Better Agenda, and that further compromise hurts everyone, but it feels like an uphill struggle. Still, the better informed we all are, the less effective obstructionists will be with their disingenuous framing, so I thank you all again for leading and taking part in discussions like this.
Feedback and Discussion
Now that you’ve seen my response, what do you think? How well are congressional Democrats implementing the Biden agenda?
While I focused on infrastructure, feel free to comment on other legislation such as the For the People Act as well. And even if you disagree with my conclusions, or even the Biden agenda altogether, please remain constructive with any discussions!
Also, regarding future discussions, would you like to see my responses to such discussion questions in your inbox? Or would you prefer I respond in the discussion thread alone and focus on the usual articles? Either way, I’d appreciate hearing your thoughts!
Thank you for reading my newsletter and taking the effort to learn about making the world a better place. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on how we can make progress towards a more just economy.
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Infrastructure Update and Discussion
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I recently wrote about the two infrastructure investment bills Congress is currently negotiating, and I wanted to give some brief updates. As you can see in the excerpt below, I mentioned that today, September 27, 2021, a vote was planned for the bipartisan infrastructure bill. That plan remains largely in place, but there have been some modifications.
Debate Begins Today—Vote on Thursday 9/30
Speaker Pelosi released a letter yesterday announcing the change in plans, saying:
If you want to learn more about the infrastructure bills, why there are two of them, and why it is so important that they both pass simultaneously, my article below discusses these topics at length.
Another Reason Why Both Bills Must Pass
I argued throughout last month’s article titled Infrastructure Investments and a Call for Solidarity that we need to pass both bills. I focused primarily on the widespread benefits and popularity of planned investments, but I did not cover another angle which also deserves consideration.
I first learned of the vote being scheduled for Thursday when I read this article from The Intercept, and it included an interesting perspective on how passing only the bipartisan bill—but not both bills—could actually be a negative outcome. While I still think both bills are positive overall, we could put our nation on—and ultimately lead the world down—the wrong path towards environmental sustainability if only one bill passes.
The article cited multiple progressive Representatives and their reticence to pass just the bipartisan bill alone, but summarized the risk of a negative outcome in the paragraph below:
Although we previously discussed how economic studies predict greater efficiency and lower commute times from such infrastructure investments, there is a real risk that we will not begin our transition away from fossil fuels soon enough if we only pass one bill. Plus, some of the environmental provisions taken out of the bipartisan bill were put back in the budget reconciliation bill. While we cannot instantly phase out all fossil fuels, we must begin the transition to a more sustainable economy, and lead the world with our example.
On the subject of implementing President Biden’s agenda, former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich recently launched his own newsletter, and he held a discussion with readers on how well they thought Congress was doing so.
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Discussion - Robert Reich’s Office Hours
Robert Reich plans to hold discussions every Wednesday and respond to readers’ comments. In his first discussion thread, Professor Reich asked readers:
I may respond to future discussion threads via Substack, so that you readers can follow along in the discussions as well, but this week I responded directly. To get an idea of what you might receive in your email inbox during future discussion threads, I included my response below.
I would highly recommend reading Robert Reich’s newsletter as well—and following along with his Office Hours discussions—but in the meantime, what are your thoughts on this question?
How well do you feel Democrats in Congress are implementing President Biden’s agenda?
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My Response to the Office Hours Question
Feedback and Discussion
Now that you’ve seen my response, what do you think? How well are congressional Democrats implementing the Biden agenda?
While I focused on infrastructure, feel free to comment on other legislation such as the For the People Act as well. And even if you disagree with my conclusions, or even the Biden agenda altogether, please remain constructive with any discussions!
Also, regarding future discussions, would you like to see my responses to such discussion questions in your inbox? Or would you prefer I respond in the discussion thread alone and focus on the usual articles? Either way, I’d appreciate hearing your thoughts!
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Thank you for reading my newsletter and taking the effort to learn about making the world a better place. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on how we can make progress towards a more just economy.
-JJ