Category: Policy Landscape

As rising inflation diminishes the spending power of the trillion-dollar bipartisan infrastructure law enacted seven months ago, the Biden administration continues to work on a potential reconciliation deal with congressional Democrats that could combat price pressures and revive parts of the president’s agenda. (BGov, June 23 and Politico, June 17) 

Rising Construction Costs & Labor Shortages 

• The costs of gas, food and other consumer staples surged to a four-decade high last month, registering an 8.6% increase from 12 months earlier. (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 14)
• Rising inflation is also increasing construction costs, which dilutes the buying power of states to implement federal aid on large infrastructure projects. States are receiving project bids up to 30% above their original expectations from contractors citing supply problems, spiking material costs, and labor shortages. (BGov, June 23 and Politico, June 17)
• An analysis by the Associated Builders and Contractors of recent labor data shows construction prices jumped 21% from a year ago, while nonresidential construction prices registered a 21.9% increase. Iron and steel prices were up 103% from 2020, while concrete increased 17% from two years ago. (Associated Builders and Contractors and Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 14)
• The Biden administration is seeking to support industries that may experience increased demand from new infrastructure investment—and assist workers acutely affected by the pandemic. The White House recently announced a “Talent Pipeline Challenge” initiative that aims to connect employers to organizations that offer job training through unions, industry associations, and community colleges for construction and jobs. (White House fact sheet and Bloomberg Law, June 17)
• White House infrastructure czar Mitch Landrieu told Bloomberg this week, “As long as there is a financial crunch on supply stuff and on inflation stuff, it’s going to affect everything that we’re doing in the $1.2 trillion at some point in time. Over the long haul, we think that will ease itself.” (BGov, June 23)
• Similarly, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said, “The tightness we’re experiencing today is not what you would see across the five-year life of this funding, let alone the longer life of the construction projects themselves.” (Politico, June 17) 

Legislative Goal 

• White House National Economic Council Director Brian Deese addressed administration efforts to combat inflation on June 19 with CBS News’ Face the Nation. He said, “The single most impactful thing that we could do right now is to work with Congress to pass legislation that would lower the costs of things that families are facing right now” such as prescription drugs and utility costs. (CBS transcript of Deese interview, June 19)
• The legislation Deese referenced is a scaled-back reconciliation package that may include provisions on climate, deficit reduction, and prescription drug costs—and reportedly is the focus of talks involving Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV). (Roundtable Weekly, June 17)
• The big four Congressional leaders (Schumer, McConnell, Pelosi and McConnell) met on Tuesday and appear increasingly close to reaching agreement on a separate $50 billion bill to finance increased R&D spending, semiconductor production, and measures to address economic competitiveness with China. (Reuters, June 21)
• Inflation also dominated the concerns of policymakers this week during testimony by Fed Chair Jerome Powell before the Senate Banking Committee and House Financial Services Committee. (C-Span, June 22 and June 23) 

Powell stated, “Inflation has obviously surprised to the upside over the past year, and further surprises could be in store. We therefore will need to be nimble in responding to incoming data and the evolving outlook. And we will strive to avoid adding uncertainty in what is already an extraordinarily challenging and uncertain time.” (Federal Reserve written testimony) 

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PoliticoPro reported today that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), above, and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) are grinding through talks about a scaled-back reconciliation package that may include provisions on climate, deficit reduction, and prescription drug costs.

Discussions & Deadlines

• The Senators met twice this week to discuss the contours of a potential trimmed-down alternative to the defunct Build Back Better Act before Sept. 30, when current budget protections for a party-line spending bill expire. (PoliticoPro, June 17)
• The Senate is scheduled to go on a two-week recess after July 24, then return for four weeks before the August recess.
• PoliticoPro also reported that Schumer is working with the Senate parliamentarian to pave the way for a possible July or August vote on such a bill. Under reconciliation rules, a legislative package would require majority approval in the evenly divided Senate, as Vice President Kamala Harris could potentially cast a tie-breaking vote.
• Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) met with President Biden on Wednesday to discuss “their plans for fighting the global problem of inflation that is affecting every major economy, such as bringing down prescription drug and energy costs…” according to a White House read-out.
• Pelosi commented after the meeting on negotiations about a reconciliation bill. “It’s alive. I’ll just say that.” (The Hill, June 16)

House Dems Push for Senate Progress

• On Thursday, 175 Democrats wrote to President Biden asking him to “reach a deal and sign into law as swiftly as possible a revised reconciliation package that includes the climate investments” previously passed by the House.” (E&E News, June 17)
• The House Democrats warned “the window to achieve a deal is rapidly closing, and so time is of the essence.”  (CQ, June 16)
• In May, discussions between Schumer and Manchin were reportedly addressing a pared-down package involving $800 million to $1 trillion in revenue from a new minimum tax on large company profits and increased IRS enforcement. Half of these revenues would go to deficit reduction. (Wall Street Journal, May 28 and Axios, May 27)

The most significant portion of the moribund BBB Act’s proposed spending was focused on climate policies. The Roundtable on Nov. 16, 2021 sent a letter to congressional tax writers detailing five recommendations on green energy tax provisions affecting real estate that were part of the BBB Act. (Roundtable Weekly, Nov. 19, 2021) 

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Congress returns to Washington next week as talks on a scaled-back reconciliation package between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) have reportedly gained momentum, with a focus on climate and energy provisions, deficit reduction, and lowering prescription drug costs. (Wall Street Journal, May 28 and Axios, May 27)

 The Reconciliation Route 

• Axios reported last night that Manchin’s separate talks with several Republican Senators on the contours of a pared-down, bipartisan legislative package have reached an end. (Axios, June 2 and Roundtable Weekly, May 6)
   
• Manchin, who stymied the Build Back Better (BBB) Act from moving forward last year, is the key to a possible alternative Democratic reconciliation bill that could pass the 50-50 Senate on a party-line vote. 
• Sen. Manchin and Sen. John Thune (R-SD), who holds the number two position in Senate Republican leadership, will be among the guests during The Roundtable’s Annual Meeting on June 16. 
   
• Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) is also a crucial centrist vote. She discussed policy issues at The Roundtable’s April 25 Spring Meeting. (Roundtable  Weekly, April 29) 

Scaling Back 

• The Schumer-Manchin discussions are now reportedly addressing a pared-down package involving $800 million to $1 trillion in revenue from a new minimum tax on large company profits and increased IRS enforcement. Half of these revenues would go to deficit reduction. (Wall Street Journal, May 28 and Axios, May 27) 
• Some of the remaining revenues would reportedly focus on possible tax incentives for reducing carbon emissions and support for existing energy sources. An extension is also under consideration for Affordable Care Act health insurance subsidies, which are scheduled to expire later this year as the November mid-terms approach. 

• The most significant portion of the moribund BBB Act’s proposed spending was focused on climate policies. The Roundtable on Nov. 16, 2021 sent a letter to congressional tax writers detailing five recommendations on green energy tax provisions affecting real estate that were part of the BBB Act. (Roundtable Weekly, Nov. 19, 2021) 

Time is short to move any new legislative package via reconciliation with midterms looming. Manchin has stated the only deadline is Sept. 30 to pass a spending bill, although other policymakers have signaled it would have to be done before the August recess. (Wall Street Journal, May 28 and Reuters, May 27) 

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