U.S. Senate Dems Blunt Amendments To $430-B Climate And Drug Bill

The US Senate on Sunday, August 7, 2022, repelled attempts to amend a $430 billion measure sought by President Joe Biden, as Democrats forged ahead with their bill to control climate change and cut prescription drug costs for the elderly, while tightening enforcement on tax payments from corporations and the wealthy, Richard Cowan reported for Reuters.

Photo Insert: After spending several hours on Saturday debating the legislation, senators dug in for a "vote-a-rama" in which Democratic and Republican amendments were offered in rapid-fire.

The Senate, working over the weekend to pass a bill central to Biden's domestic agenda, was destined to work into the early morning hours in hopes of passing the bill before starting an August recess.

"The time is now to move forward with a big, bold package for the American people," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said at the start of debate Saturday night. He said the legislation contains "the boldest clean energy package in American history" to fight climate change while reducing consumer costs for some medicines and energy.

After spending several hours on Saturday debating the legislation, senators dug in for a "vote-a-rama" in which Democratic and Republican amendments were offered in rapid-fire.

Well into the process, Republicans forced a vote on an amendment to set into law a Trump administration policy stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic that effectively closed down the US asylum system.

The Biden administration has been in a legal tussle to replace the "Title 42" policy with what it described as a more humane and orderly system for migrants crossing the southwestern border with Mexico.

While the amendment was defeated on a 50-50 vote, it is likely to become a campaign issue, forcing vulnerable Democratic senators in border states, like Mark Kelly in Arizona, to defend their opposition to the amendment.

Earlier, independent Senator Bernie Sanders, a former presidential candidate aligned with Democrats, was soundly defeated on the first amendment offered. It would have vastly expanded the bill's number of prescription drugs eligible for price negotiation under the government's Medicare insurance plan for the elderly.

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