The Archive

Happy Saturday from the Capitol. This is a special edition for Punchbowl News Premium subscribers.

Senate Democrats are readying their final sprint to pass their massive reconciliation package, aka the Inflation Reduction Act. The big question is how long it will take, what stays in and what gets knocked out.

Much is uncertain at this early hour. But a large group of Senate Democrats are planning to vote against all amendments. Not all Democrats are on board with this plan, most notably Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer took to the floor at noon and said the chamber will vote on the motion to proceed in a “few hours.” Schumer held two unrelated votes on Biden nominees. Nine Republicans missed the second vote.

Schumer called the bill “one of the most comprehensive and far-reaching pieces of legislation that has come before the Congress in decades. It will help just about every citizen in this country and make America a much better place.”

Elizabeth MacDonough, the Senate parliamentarian, has scrubbed much of the package to ensure that it complies with the Byrd Rule, which governs the reconciliation process. The parliamentarian cleared the Environment and Public Works title.

But the provision allowing Medicare to negotiate on drug prices was narrowed, which will cut into the budget savings generated by the bill. MacDonough ruled that inflation rebates for soaring drug prices can only apply to Medicare recipients, but not private plans.

The fate of the proposed $35 cap on insulin is unclear as well and partially depends on what Republicans want to do.

MacDonough has ruled that the provision could violate the Byrd Rule, which controls the reconciliation process.

But Democrats are leaving the provision in the bill (actually in two places, one for Medicare recipients and one for private plans) and daring Republicans to knock it out. Democrats believe cutting the price for insulin for millions of diabetics is good politics and believe it is a risk for Republicans to strike it from the bill.

“Let’s be clear – the only way this doesn’t get done is if Republicans block it,” said Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), one of the sponsors of the measure.

Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) said he’s not sure if Republicans will try to knock the insulin language out of the legislation. This would be a tricky vote for GOP lawmakers.

“We’ve had several conversations about that subject,” Thune told us. “And so I guess on that one, I would just maybe wait and see.”

Republicans can offer an unlimited number of amendments to the reconciliation package and they’re expected to force a host of tricky votes.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said her party has to stick together and defeat any attempts to change the package – even from Democrats.

But Sanders, a vocal critic of the package, plans to offer four amendments. The Budget Committee chair said the Democrats’ bill “does not address the major crises facing working families.”

As for the timing, Thune said he anticipates the Senate will work all day and all night so Democrats can clear the bill this weekend. The House is expected to take it up next Friday at the earliest.

Also: President Joe Biden tested negative for Covid but will continue to isolate until he has another negative test.

– Jake Sherman and John Bresnahan