Democrats have reached an agreement on a whopping $3.5 trillion budget plan, including plans to address climate change and the expansion of Medicare, that they plan to push alongside an infrastructure deal.
The measure, combined with nearly $600 billion in new spending on infrastructure, is intended to deliver on Biden’s $4 trillion economic proposal, the New York Times reports. This would pave the way for a partisan bill that democrats plan to push through using reconciliation.
Democrats would have to rally every member of their party, as well as the independents, in order to defeat the republicans.
The agreement, reached among Chuck Schumer and the 11 senators who caucus with the democrats on the Budget Committee, came after a second day of meetings.
“We are very proud of this plan,” Schumer said. “We know we have a long road to go. We’re going to get this done for the sake of making average Americans’ lives a whole lot better.”
The resolution is expected to contain language prohibiting tax increases on small businesses and people making less than $400,000. Schumer also said the resolution would call for an expansion of Medicare to provide for dental, vision and hearing benefits.
“Every major program” requested by Biden would be “funded in a robust way,” Schumer said.
