Just in time for the holiday The Grinch has returned. Senator Joe Manchin has said “No” to the Build Back Better Act. The bill would have continued to offer relief to 35 million struggling families through the child tax credit ending this month. Veteran coal miners suffering black lung disease will lose a four-year extension of funding. Medicaid expansions including hearing benefits, lower drug costs and funding to increase home health care are now tabled, as may be some much needed immigration reform.
Free pre-kindergarten and lower childcare costs and incentives to combat climate change are potentially lost. And equitable tax reforms won’t be considered any time soon.
And while Manchin uses rising inflation as his concern, the Pentagon saw an increased funding of $780 billion, $24 billion more than the White House requested. Good ole Joe signed on to that.
As significantly, Manchin’s refusal to reform the filibuster makes it unlikely the Freedom to Vote Act will pass. The bill currently in the Senate would solidify voter protections. It would include early voting, mail in ballots and make Election Day a holiday. A national standard for voter identification would ensure election integrity. Without these federal safeguards big money will continue to rule our political landscape.
But it would be unwise to pin the Grinch label on ole Joe exclusively. The truth is everyone who believes that change should come incrementally is a card carrying Grinch club member. The status quo works well for centrists of both parties. And the media plays on centrist fears.
A country more invested in war than people will surely suffer.
Here’s hoping Christmas “Goodwill” lasts longer than a day.
It’s possible.
The photo is the original cover of the Dr. Seuss book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
let kindness win 