After a long overnight vote-a-rama, the Senate has voted on and passed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the landmark $430 billion bill that will reduce inflation, address climate change, allow Medicare to negotiate lower prices on drugs, and ensure that corporations and wealthy Americans pay their fair share of taxes.
The bill passed 51:50 with VP Harris casting the tie-breaking vote.
The House is expected to vote on the bill on Friday and send the bill to the White House for President Biden’s signature.
Yes, we did it!
Watch the proceedings here. Schumer has the floor now. Thanking his colleagues and staff. Dignified as ever. No spiking the ball. No trashing of his trash-worthy opponents.
Yes, the bill is not perfect, but there is a lot to like about the bill. We did it in spite of the having a 50:50 senate, with two Democratic Senators that like to play spoiler, but who came through nevertheless. Let’s make sure the electorate understands what the bill will do for them and for the country.
This bill is close to achieving the target on emissions as the Build back Better Act.
Lots of good analysis in this thread and in this report.
The provision to lower the price of insulin for non-Medicare patients was killed by republicans; it required 60 votes to stay in the bill; let’s make sure voters remember this at the polls.
There is pride and joy and hope around the country (except in MAGA Republican circles, who are probably busy plotting how to use the bill to further fleece their flock).
Let’s not forget to remind voters that no republican supported this bill that truly helps the people and the country.
Live video from Senate floor on YouTube.
As for us, let’s keep our focus on the future, let’s give the bill and Democrats our full-throated support and let’s keep educating the electorate on how Democrats make while Republicans break the country, the economy and the world. We need to win the House and the Senate this November; lot more can done after that. If we lose, there may be no second chance for our Democracy.
Let’s stay united, let us be the wind behind the sails of Democracy.
Check out these diaries for more info -
- U.S. Senate begins debate and vote on the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
- The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 - What's in it and did Democrats outsmart McConnell?