Democrats are driving their election-year economic package toward Senate approval.
Progressive Sen. Bernie Sander, I-Vt., offered amendments to further expand the legislation's health benefits, and they were defeated. But most proposed changes were fashioned by Republicans to unravel the bill or force Democrats into votes on dangerous political terrain.
Other GOP amendments would have required more gas and oil leasing on federal lands and blocked a renewal of a fee on oil that helps finance toxic waste cleanups. All were rejected on party-line votes. Republicans accused Democrats of being soft on border security and opening the door to higher energy and gas costs.
But the thrust of their pharmaceutical price language remained. That included letting Medicare negotiate what it pays for drugs for its 64 million elderly recipients, penalizing manufacturers for exceeding inflation for drugs sold to Medicare and limiting beneficiaries out-of-pocket drug costs to $2,000 annually.The measure's final costs were being recalculated to reflect late changes, but overall it would raise more than $700 billion over a decade.
Efforts fostering clean energy would be strengthened with tax credits for buying electric vehicles and manufacturing solar panels and wind turbines. There would be home energy rebates, funds for constructing factories building clean energy technology and money to promote climate-friendly farm practices and reduce pollution in minority communities.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Dems push Biden climate, health priorities toward Senate OKDemocrats are driving their election-year economic package toward Senate approval
Read more »
Dems unwilling to back BidenA startling number of lawmakers in President Biden's own party have been unwilling in recent days to say he should seek re-election in 2024, amid gnawing fears he'll be too old or unpopular to win.
Read more »
Senate parliamentarian OKs most of Dems' drug price controlsThe Senate parliamentarian narrowed Democrats' plan for curbing drug prices but left it largely intact Saturday, Democrats said, as party leaders prepared to start moving their sprawling economic bill through the chamber.
Read more »
Dems' climate, energy, tax bill clears initial Senate hurdleWASHINGTON (AP) — A divided Senate voted Saturday to start debating Democrats’ election-year economic bill, boosting the sprawling collection of President Joe Biden’s priorities on climate, energy, health and taxes past its initial test as it starts moving through Congress.
Read more »
Senate debates Dems' social spending and tax bill before marathon vote-a-rama: LIVE UPDATESSenate Republicans are promising a vote-a-rama 'hell' for Democrats, who are advancing a social spending and taxation bill with the support of moderate Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema.
Read more »