Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) is remaining steadfast in her optimism regarding the future of the Build Back Better Act and voting rights negotiations in the Senate. That first piece of legislation constitutes a sweeping social spending package that stands to support improving health care access, fighting climate change, and more. As explained by ABC, the bill includes “$555 billion for climate initiatives, $109 billion for universal pre-K, $150 billion for affordable housing and $167 billion for Medicare expansion,” among other provisions.
The Biden admin is calling for oil and gas companies to pay more to drill on federal lands and waters, arguing the current 12.5% royalty rate — which hasn't gone up in 100 years — "shortchanges taxpayers and States."
— Axios (@axios) November 28, 2021
On Sunday’s edition of ABC’s This Week, Klobuchar expressed confidence that the Senate’s negotiations over the Build Back Better Act would be completed by Christmas, preparing the bill for passage. She also indicated that so-called moderate Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) remains involved in negotiations surrounding the spending bill — and concurrent efforts to establish new federal protections for voting rights, providing a path for moving ahead. Democrats can pass the Build Back Better Act on their own in the Senate, but every Democrat — including the “moderates” — must be onboard.
The more we learn about the build up to January 6th, the clearer Trump’s culpability becomes. https://t.co/3pcnkveOHu
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) November 28, 2021
Klobuchar commented as follows:
‘We’ve got workforce issues, and that’s why this Build Back Better agenda is so important. We need people, we need kids to go into jobs where we have shortages. We don’t have a shortage of sports marketing degrees; we have a shortage of health care workers. We have a shortage of plumbers, electricians, construction workers. This bill puts us on the right path. Helping people with child care — a lot of people want to go to work, but they don’t have child care that’s affordable in their area. Or they’ve got aging parents that they have to take care of… We need to do something about immigration reform: also in Build Back Better. And finally, making things more affordable for families. That means bringing down the cost of prescription drugs. To me, that’s what we do about the problem right in front of us… have the backs of the American people. That’s our top priority.’
Pushing lies has consequences. The GOP has attached itself to Trump's bogus election fraud claims, leading to these conspiracies now becoming a part of the election playbook for many candidates. https://t.co/BVbHpxqHRx
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) November 28, 2021
Asked about Manchin’s expressed reluctance towards moving swiftly on that economic plan, Klobuchar said she expected negotiations to be concluded by Christmas and added as follows:
‘Sen. Manchin is still at the negotiating table, talking to us every day — talking to us about voting rights, getting that bill done, restoring the Senate. He is talking to us about this bill.’
Klobuchar also described voting rights as “fundamental to our country,” saying: “You see partisan gerrymandering going on, and what we’re talking about here is restoring the rules of the Senate so we can pass a bill that Sen. Manchin has signed his name onto, the bill I lead, the bill Sen. Schumer has been bringing people together on… the Freedom to Vote Act.” “Restoring” the Senate would presumably refer to changing the filibuster rules to make passing voting rights protections easier. Currently, the Senate’s filibuster rules require the agreement of 60 Senators in the 100-member chamber before moving forward on most bills. Watch Klobuchar on ABC below:
