Sanders beats Schumer and Manchin with 'so-called inflation cuts'

• Bernie Sanders has denounced the Democratic Party’s main climate and healthcare bill as a “so-called inflation cut bill.”
• Sanders noted in the bipartisan review that the bill would not have an immediate impact on inflation.
• Republicans also slammed the bill’s name.

Senator Bernie Sanders blasted the Democrats’ mega-climate and health care bill Saturday night as senators tried to pass a major piece of Biden’s economic agenda after more than a year of debate.

Shortly after joining Democrats in advancing the debate on the proposal, Sanders said, “I would like to say a few words about the so-called inflation reduction bill that we are discussing tonight.” I say so-called because, according to the group, the impact on inflation would actually be minimal.”

For much of this week, Sanders barged in on a $740 billion proposal brokered by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Joe Manchin. The proposal would invest millions in green energy, lower the price of some prescription drugs, and impose a 15% minimum tax on large medical institutions. Corporation.

Sanders’ reference to the CBO (Congressional Budget Office) agrees with the bipartisan scorekeeper’s finding that the proposal is negligible, at least for the foreseeable future, NPR previously reported.

Vermont independents plan to introduce amendments to change the bill, including one action that authorizes Medicare to pay VA equivalent amounts for prescription drugs. Sanders was then left alone as both Democrats and Republicans rejected his amendment, which he voted 99 to 1, to limit the cost of covered prescription drugs under Medicare Parts B and D. did.

Georgia Democrats Raphael Warnock and John Ossoff later joined Sanders on a Medicare amendment covering dental, vision and hearing benefits. But the Vermont senator’s efforts were again foiled, this time by his lopsided 3-97 vote.

Republicans have used the CBO findings as bait to denounce the Democrats’ proposals. Some have previously used Sanders’ exact approach of calling the proposal a “so-called inflation reduction law.”

“I don’t say this often, but I agree with Bernie on that point,” Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the second-ranked Republican in the Senate, told an insider.

Sanders has been outraged to push for compromise over elements abandoned from Biden’s larger “build back better” agenda.

The Vermont senator and former presidential candidate added that the bill contains “great features” but includes drug pricing provisions that will take years to take effect. He also criticized the fact that Sanders also withdrew a provision in the bill to expand exploration for fossil fuels, which helped secure Manchin’s support.

Sanders urged Democratic senators to address “the major crisis facing working families” in a speech to the floor.

“If we can’t do that, not only will people continue to get hurt and suffer, but it’s questionable how long we can maintain our democracy,” he said.

Sen. Ron Wyden, who helped draft the bill as chair of the powerful Finance Committee, said he shared Sanders’ hopes for further legislation in many areas. But Wyden argued that the bill still takes a big step, especially when it comes to drug pricing.

“I said I wanted to be more myself and do it sooner,” Wyden told reporters. “There’s no doubt that’s my roots.” It’s not a crisis situation for me when I’m faced with it.”