Surprising FactA $3.5 trillion price tag would make Democrats’ budget package the largest spending bill in the nation’s history, an effort the party has billed as the most ambitious antipoverty and climate change initiative ever taken up by lawmakers. “Senate Democrats have just took a massive step toward restoring the middle class of the 21st century,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said after the Wednesday vote. Key BackgroundAfter an all-night session filled with debate, the Senate narrowly passed its budget blueprint Wednesday morning and adjourned until September 13. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) both said they refuse to support a package costing $3.5 trillion and only voted to advance the bill to help kick off negotiations. “I firmly believe continuing to spend at irresponsible levels puts at risk our nation’s ability to respond to the unforeseen crises our country could face.”Further ReadingUS Senate Narrowly Passes Biden's $3.5 Trillion Budget Plan (Forbes)Senate Democrats Unveil $3.5 Trillion Budget—Proposing Free Community College, Pathway To Citizenship And More (Forbes)

Source: Forbes August 11, 2021 17:12 UTC