If you do not have the votes even in your own caucus to pass a piece of legislation that you want, then there is no point in tying up good meaningful legislation that gets you part way there.
This is a reality that seems completely lost to progressives. In the meantime, people are denied access to programs they need while progressives hold out for the perfect solution that is politically unavailable.
I watched Bernie Sanders last week on CBS This Morning, and his responses to questions demonstrated this problem clearly. He was not willing to compromise on the $3.5 trillion dollar proposal even though he doesn’t have the votes for that, even in his own caucus.
Knowing that they can’t receive votes from Republicans and knowing that at least two members of their caucus will not vote for $3.5 trillion, it is necessary for Democrats to understand that a proposal will need to be cut back. And given that Joe Manchin seems to be stuck at $1.5 trillion they should understand that they will get nowhere near $3.5 trillion.
Ross's Writings 