Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is remaining hopeful after a string of struggles for Democrats on Election Day this Tuesday. The most high-profile development was no doubt the outcome of the Virginia governor’s race, with Trump-endorsed Republican Glenn Youngkin managing to win over Democrat Terry McAuliffe. Although turnout in years without presidential elections often shifts downward, that’s not all that happened. Biden won Virginia last year by about 10 percent, while Youngkin won this week by some 2 percent. Meanwhile, Schiff called on Democrats to focus on imminently possible successes, like the transformative social spending package that has been under development by party leaders.
Schiff pointedly commented as follows:
‘Look, I get it. It’s easy to be cynical these days. But we have a lot to be hopeful about. We’re going to pass a New Deal-level investment in people. We’re going to put our children and grandchildren on a course for a better future. We’re going to get this done. We have to.’
Look, I get it. It’s easy to be cynical these days. But we have a lot to be hopeful about.
We’re going to pass a New Deal-level investment in people.
We’re going to put our children and grandchildren on a course for a better future.
We’re going to get this done. We have to.
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) November 3, 2021
Schiff also pointed to voting rights, adding the following later on Wednesday after Senate Republicans launched a successful filibuster against the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act:
‘Time for a reality check: Senate Republicans will NEVER vote to protect voting rights. We have to stop waiting for the fever to break. It’s time to end the filibuster and start legislating like our democracy is on the line. Because it is.’
Time for a reality check:
Senate Republicans will NEVER vote to protect voting rights.
We have to stop waiting for the fever to break. It’s time to end the filibuster and start legislating like our democracy is on the line.
Because it is.— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) November 3, 2021
The social spending plan has been tossed around among Democratic leaders and negotiators for months, and it’s unclear at this point when success may arrive. It’s worth noting, though, that a significant part of the hold-up can be attributed to two Democrats alone — Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.) and Joe Manchin (W.Va.), who have both resisted some of the more ambitious elements of the developing proposal. Although House Democrats have since announced that they’ll be putting it back into their version, a universal paid family leave program was recently completely struck from the deal amid opposition from Manchin. A more moderate version of the proposal does still have significant elements, however, including a universal prekindergarten program.
