I think I have a better strategy for Joe Biden than trying to negotiate with and please Joe Manchin. He should negotiate with and offer some plums to “moderate” Republicans like Collins, Romney and Murkowski. First, he needs to extend all the truly desired programs to the full 10 years so the programs could be counted on, and fully pay for them.

How does he pay for the bill? He puts back in all the revenue earning things that he took out to please Manchin. Like what? The increased taxes on the rich and also put back increasing the IRS budget the increase of which was intended to be used to hire more tax cheat investigators who would go after the Trump-like super-rich tax dodgers. I have read that for every dollar spent on new IRS investigators the return is sky high. This would take away the twin arguments Manchin and others use that “It isn’t paid for!” And “It’s inflationary!”

If need be, he could cut out some programs that could be reintroduced in 2022’s reconciliation bill. [Keep in those programs which have the best chance of immediately effecting people’s lives and wallet, like allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices.] What plums could be offered to the Republicans? I don’t know, but Joe could find out by calling them in for negotiations and seeing what they might want taken out or added.

Maybe some LBJ hardball could be played — “You know Senator Collins that bridge you want fixed and Senator Murkowski that tunnel you counted on, we may not be able to get to those like you wanted.” Doing something like this would have the added benefit of alerting Manchin [and Sinema] that this possibility exists and might inspire his renewed cooperation!

Lee Augustine

Wawarsing