Biden unveils $1.75 trillion spending framework: 'No one got everything they wanted, including me'
President Biden on Thursday publicly unveiled his $1.75 trillion spending package framework, in hopes of ending Democrats' weeks-long negotiations over an administration-defining investment into the country's health care, education, and climate systems, reports The Washington Post.
Biden began his televised East Room address by defending the slimmed-down framework, which initial proposals had pegged at $3.5 trillion: "No one got everything they wanted, including me," he said.
"But that's what compromise is. That's consensus. And that's what I ran on," he added. "I've long said compromise and consensus are the only way to get big things done in a democracy."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Biden argued getting this deal (and the accompanying infrastructure bill) through Congress is a "matter of critical importance" to U.S. progress and global stature, writes The Hill, and maintained that investments in health care, child care, and climate change would both bolster working Americans and protect the world they live in from environmental threats. He did, however, stop "short of laying out a timeline or calling on Congress to pass the reconciliation bill or a bipartisan infrastructure bill immediately," the Hill notes.
"It's about leading the world or letting the world pass us by," the president explained.
Soon after Biden's remarks, former President Barack Obama issued a statment celebrating the White House framework as a "giant leap forward," despite the often "frustrating and slow" nature of progress.
When he was through, the president left the room without taking any questions, despite the one very big, very important one plaguing us all: without explicit, pledged support from Democrats, can this deal even happen?
Only time will tell. And according to Politico's Ryan Lizza, it's "clearly not locked in."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
'Criminal trail?'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Grindr 'shared user HIV status' with ad firms, lawsuit claims
Speed Read LGBTQ dating app accused of breaching UK data protection laws in case filed at London's High Court
By Rebecca Messina, The Week UK Published
-
The best dog-friendly hotels around the UK
The Week Recommends Take a break with your four-legged friend in accommodation that offers you both a warm welcome
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Elevating Earth Day into a national holiday is not radical — it's practical'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine cheers House approval of military aid
Speed Read Following a lengthy struggle, the House has approved $95 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Republicans want to silence Israel's opponents'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spies
Speed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrike
Speed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Peter Murrell: Sturgeon's husband charged over SNP 'embezzlement' claims
Speed Read SNP expresses 'shock' as former chief executive rearrested in long-running investigation into claims of mishandled campaign funds
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claims
Speed Read Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
'A direct, protracted war with Israel is not something Iran is equipped to fight'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published