Votes ahead for Biden's 'historic' plan

WASHINGTON－US President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that he and Democrats in Congress have reached a "historic" framework for his sweeping domestic policy package. But he still needs to lock down votes from colleagues for what is now a dramatically scaled-back bill.

Eager to have a deal in hand before his departure for global summits, Biden made his case privately to House Democrats on Capitol Hill and publicly in a speech at the White House. He is now pressing for a still-robust package－$1.75 trillion of social services and climate change programs－that the White House believes can pass the 50-50 Senate.

The fast-moving developments put Democrats closer to a hard-fought deal, but battles remain as they press to finish the final draft in the days and weeks ahead.

Together with a nearly $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, Biden claimed the infusion of federal investments would be a domestic achievement modeled on those of Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson.

"I need your votes," Biden told lawmakers at the Capitol, according to a person who requested anonymity to discuss the private remarks.

But final votes will not be called for some time. The revised package has lost some top priorities, frustrating many lawmakers as the president's ambitions make way for the political realities of the narrowly divided Congress.

Paid family leave and efforts to lower prescription drug pricing are now gone entirely from the package, drawing outrage from some lawmakers and advocates.

Long list

Still in the mix are a long list of other priorities: Free prekindergarten for all youngsters, expanded healthcare programs－including the launch of a new $35 billion hearing aid benefit for people with Medicare－and $555 billion to tackle climate change.

There is also a one-year extension of a child care tax credit that was put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic and new child care subsidies. An additional $100 billion to bolster the immigration and border processing system could boost the overall package to $1.85 trillion if it clears Senate rules.

"I look forward to getting this done," said Senator Kyrsten Sinema, a pivotal Democratic holdout.

However, Senator Joe Manchin was less committal. "This is all in the hands of the House right now," he said.

The two Democrats have almost single-handedly reduced the size and scope of their party's big vision, and are crucial to sealing the deal.

Republicans remain overwhelmingly opposed, forcing Biden to rely on the Democrats' narrow majority in Congress with no votes to spare in the Senate and few in the House.

Taking form after months of negotiations, Biden's emerging bill would still be among the most sweeping of its kind in a generation, modeled on New Deal and Great Society programs. The White House calls it the largest ever investment in climate change and the biggest improvement to the nation's healthcare system in more than a decade.

In his meeting with lawmakers at the Capitol, Biden made clear how important it was to show progress as he headed to the summits.

"We are at an inflection point," he said. "The rest of the world wonders whether we can function."