Leader of House Progressives Presses Biden to Enact Build Back Better through Executive Action

[FBaggins]

Representative Pramila Jayapal (D., Wash.), chairwoman of the progressive caucus, urged President Biden to enact the Democrats’ massive social-spending package through executive action after Senator Joe Manchin’s opposition derailed the bill in Congress for now.

“Taking executive action will also make clear to those who hinder Build Back Better that the White House and Democrats will deliver for Americans,” Jayapal wrote in a Washington Post op-ed on Sunday, in an astonishing bid to ram through at least parts of a policy whose true cost could run into the trillions.

She assured that the progressive bloc is committed to codifying the plan and will “continue to work toward legislation for Build Back Better, focused on keeping it as close to the agreed-upon framework as possible.” The congresswoman said the caucus is working on its own declaration of priorities “including lowering costs, protecting the health of every family, and showing the world” that the U.S. “is serious about our leadership on climate action.”

Jayapal, meanwhile, slammed Manchin for pulling his support for the bill. She said he “went back on his commitment to the president and seemingly killed the bill on national television” when he announced his rejection on Fox News. Republicans, however, have been quick to point out that at least 51 senators, not just Manchin, opposed Build Back Better.

https://news.yahoo.com/leader-house-progressives-presses-biden-150942063.html

I'd be hard-pressed to name much in BBB that can effectively be implemented by executive order.

[PatSeg]

1. I agree, it doesn't sound like a feasible plan

Though I suppose it is a way to draw more attention to the bill.

[Demsrule86]

2. That is not possible. I suggest that leader of the Progressives and the leader of the moderates...

do their jobs and reach a compromise. Get what you can which helps us in the midterms and we can come back for more. Drop the child credit and paid leave, it can't pass the Senate.

[NJCher]

3. Pramila's no dummy

In fact I just listened to a podcast of an interview of her by Preet Bahara. She must have something in mind or she wouldn't have made this declaration.

[mopinko]

8. i'm guessing she does have items in mind.

i think negotiating drug prices for medicare might be doable as an eo.
i think there are some environmental regs in there that might also work.

tfg got away w a lot of shit this way. we should too.

[FloridaBlues]

4. If it was that easy he would have done it already!

[NJCher]

6. strongly disagree with that

Biden is devoted to gaining the cooperation of all the people involved. He ran up against a wall that just about everyone agrees is absurd: Joe Manchin being the primary holdout.

Biden absolutely would not have done executive order. He would not do it unless every option was exhausted. Even now, I don't know that he would consider this. I think he will still try, along with the House members, to get something through the Senate.

[JustAnotherGen]

5. After Voting Rights

Right now - she needs to understand . . .

Warnock and Abrams, Charles Booker, Val Demmings, etc. etc. - they are in Southern States trying to win an election. I have family members in those states and I'm final signature on a family owned agribusiness that spans several states . . .

It will mean nothing if black Americans are put under the boot of taxation without representation.

I appreciate her efforts - but I'll be damned if they are going to send my dad's four oldest siblings back to 1950 in Georgia and Alabama and Michigan. Fuck that shit.

[DarwinsRetriever]

7. Federal courts would throw out any executive action of BBB

The President cannot appropriate money. He can move existing appropriations around, but that is taking from Peter to Pay Paul.
He cannot legislate. But lets say there are parts of the climate action that would fit under the existing infrastructure, he could do that.

[NJCher]

9. you may have something there

In any event, after I posted the above I had to go on a car trip. While driving it hit me what she might be doing:

It is pretty much the same thing as Bernie calling for a vote and forcing Manchin on the record to say he is opposed to BBB. Manchin and anyone else who is opposed will go on the record as being opposed.

What Pramilla might be saying is for Biden to do everything that's legally permissible through executive order plus some things that might push the envelope. Robbing Peter to pay Paul might be fairly workable. With the pushing the envelope stuff, it has to be enough that a court case is filed. That puts republicans and Manchin on paper and in writing, in black and white, and in a court record.