Getting $3.5 Trillion To Pass: Progressives Are The Good Guys

Remember this whole infrastructure mess next time anyone dares to call progressives “divisive.” Here are the facts:

• Bernie Sanders supports a 3.5 trillion dollar reconciliation bill.
• Joe Biden supports a 3.5 trillion dollar reconciliation bill.
• Nancy Pelosi supports a 3.5 trillion dollar reconciliation bill.
• Chuck Schumer supports a 3.5 trillion dollar reconciliation bill.

The vast majority of the Democratic base supports a 3.5 trillion dollar reconciliation bill.

The original agreement was that the two bills were going to be voted on in tandem. The Exxon bill (the smaller infrastructure bill) would not have passed the Senate without that agreement; several Democratic Senators were quite clear about that. When it made it to the House, Nancy Pelosi was quite clear that she would honor the deal.

Conservative Democrats (stop calling them ‘moderates’) are attempting to torpedo the agreement and get their (Exxon) bill without upholding their end of the bargain.

The consequences arising from the failure of both bills to pass fall squarely on the conservative Democrats, Manchin & Sinema in particular. Consequences like Republicans sweeping the midterms and taking back the House and Senate. You’ll be able to thank the conservative Democrats for it all.

They have always been the source of actual division in the Democratic Party. Now, they are showing their asses.

[Lightly edited for clarity. Ryan Skolnick works as a community organizer for National Nurses United.]