Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) announced on Wednesday they had agreed on a revived “Build Back Better” bill that they plan to pass in the coming weeks.
The bill is misleadingly titled the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.” Its text has not yet been released, but according to a one-page summary released by Senate Democrats, it would spend over $700 billion while implementing radical leftist programs that will significantly expand the federal government. The proposed bill’s provisions will include:
- $369 billion in leftist “climate change” programs, with the goal of lowering carbon emissions by 40 percent by 2030;
- $300 billion in “deficit reduction” (as if one can reduce the deficit by spending more money);
- $64 billion to extend expanded ObamaCare subsidies;
- increasing IRS funding so it can find ways to take even more money from taxpayers; and
- implementing the OECD’s (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) 15-percent global minimum tax proposal, a major step toward world government.
Shortly after the news first broke, Joe Biden announced his support for the Schumer-Manchin agreement. Senate Democrats plan to begin considering it next week; they will use the “reconciliation” process whereby the bill can pass the Senate with only a simple majority, bypassing the filibuster.
Reacting to news of the agreement, Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) called the bill “the biggest climate action in human history.” Based on the announced provisions, the revived “Build Back Better” bill would be a significant step toward entrenching socialism and a radical climate-change agenda in the United States.
Although “only” about $700 billion, the revived bill is a first step toward even larger and more radical measures. Furthermore, in the wake of record-high inflation, record government spending, record gas prices, and food shortages, this bill would take the United States even further toward such anti-American policies.
Notably — and as with every other federal spending bill — the “Inflation Reduction Act” is unconstitutional, with virtually all its announced provisions falling outside Congress’ enumerated powers under Article I, Section 8. (And since the OECD agreement is, in effect, an international treaty, the Senate would, constitutionally, need to ratify it via a two-thirds vote.)
If Congress had any respect for the Constitution and fiscal responsibility, it would completely reject this revived “Build Back Better” bill. However, considering Congress’ record, it is imperative that patriots educate and activate other Americans to stand against draconian bills and those pushing them.
To urge your U.S. representative and senators to oppose the so-called “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022,” visit The John Birch Society’s legislative alert here.
