In theory, it should be a hopeful day for those seeking a better future for American families. The most important House committees begin their markups of the $3.5 trillion Build Back Better Act (sometimes called the reconciliation bill), setting out the terms of most of the key education, labor, health care, and revenue elements of the legislation.
But instead of debating the finer points of how to most efficiently deliver these benefits, there’s been a combination of anxiety attacks and Sophie’s Choice–style decision-making among the Democratic caucus. Suddenly, a bill that represented the promise of the party’s agenda is being ground down into paste, for the benefit of self-regarding conservative members.
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