- Bernie Sanders has slammed the Democrats’ flagship climate and health care bill as the “so-called Deflation Act.”
- Sanders pointed out that a nonpartisan review found the legislation would have no immediate effect on inflation.
- Republicans also rejected the bill’s name.
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Sen. Bernie Sanders blasted Democrats’ sweeping climate and health care bill Saturday night as senators tried to pass a major part of Biden’s economic agenda after more than a year of debate.
“I want to take a moment to say a few words about the so-called Deflation Act that we’re debating tonight,” Sanders said after joining Democrats in advancing debate on the proposal. “I say so-called because according to the CBO and other economic organizations that have studied this bill, it will actually have a minimal impact on inflation.”
For most of the week, Sanders tore up a $740 billion proposal, brokered by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Joe Manchin, that would invest millions in green energy, lower the prices of some prescription drugs and impose a minimum a 15 percent tax on large corporations.
Sanders’ mention of CBO, or the Congressional Budget Office, is a nod to the nonpartisan accountant’s finding that the proposal is insignificant, at least in the near term, NPR previously reported.
The Independent of Vermont intends to introduce amendments to change the bill, such as one measure that would give Medicare the right to pay an amount equal to the Department of Veterans Affairs for prescription drugs. Sanders later stood alone as both Democrats and Republicans rejected his amendment to limit the cost of covered prescription drugs under Medicare Parts B and D by a 99-to-1 vote.
Both Georgia Democrats, Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, later joined Sanders on an amendment that would have Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing benefits. But once again the Vermont senator’s efforts failed by a lopsided vote, this time 3 to 97.
Republicans have used the CBO findings as fodder to criticize the Democratic proposal. Some have previously taken Sanders’ exact approach, calling the proposal the “so-called Deflation Act.”
“I don’t catch myself saying that very often. But I agree with Bernie on this one,” Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the second-ranking Republican in the Senate, told Insider.
Sanders took umbrage at elements that were thrown out of Biden’s broader “Build Back Better” agenda to advance the compromise, including universal prep, tuition-free community college and nursing home care.
The Vermont senator and former presidential candidate added that the legislation contained “good features,” but also criticized the inclusion of a drug pricing provision that would take years to take effect. He later called it an “incredibly cool bill.” Sanders also cut provisions in the bill that would expand some fossil fuel exploration, an addition that helped secure Manchin’s support.
Sanders pressed Democratic senators to address the “major crises facing working families” during his speech.
“If we can’t do that, not only will people continue to hurt and suffer, but I think it’s questionable how long we’re going to be a democracy,” he said on Saturday.
Sen. Ron Wyden, who is helping write the legislation as chairman of the powerful Finance Committee, said he shares Sanders’ hope for a bill that goes further in many areas. But on drug pricing, in particular, Wyden said the bill still takes big steps.
“I said I’d like to do more on my own, faster — there’s no doubt that’s my roots,” Wyden told reporters, adding that when faced “between doing nothing and doing it, it’s not a close call for me. “
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