In the ongoing struggle between the Democrats and Republicans, while the former is celebrating its wins, the latter is looking out for ways to downplay their accomplishments.
President Joe Biden finally has reason to celebrate. A recent string of stunning legislative victories has raised hope amongst Democrats and brought much-needed cheer to beleaguered White House aides.
The price of gas at the pump has fallen by more than a dollar to around US$4 a gallon, giving relief to people hit by inflation. A good “jobs report” earlier this month which showed the lowest unemployment rate of 3.5 percent in 50 years, has given Democrats a reason to claim their economic plan is working.
Much of the legislative drought on Capitol Hill caused by a couple of intransigent senators from Biden’s party is finally over as his ambitious domestic agenda gets converted into reality. Such is the euphoria that the president is being compared to Lyndon B. Johnson and Franklin D. Roosevelt, two presidents known for creating massive programs designed for relief, recovery, and progressive reforms.
Biden indeed channelled both Roosevelt and Johnson last year after his US$1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package passed in March 2021 when he said he would spend trillions more to make “a once-in-a-generation investment in America.” But ironically, he was jammed by two Democratic Party senators, not Republicans, in his quest. The fact that Biden’s own teammates, Senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, became roadblocks made the White House look especially weak. But tough negotiations led by Senator Majority Leader Charles Schumer over the past six weeks made the politics work. Biden is set to make history and become one of the most legislatively successful presidents in modern times. Congress has just passed the Inflation Reduction act (US$700 billion), Chips and Science Act (US$280 billion), and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (US$550 billion) to add to the American Recovery Act or the COVID relief package of last year. Taken together, it adds up to a whopping US$3.5 trillion. The fact that it has been pushed through a Congress where the Democrats have a narrow majority, and Vice President Kamala Harris has to cast the deciding vote in a 50-50 Senate is notable. A combination of smart negotiating tactics, patience, compromise, and bipartisanship was key to success. The impressive list of bills covers climate change, health insurance, semiconductors, science, broadband, tax equity, and manufacturing, amongst other pressing issues. Other recent successes include a small improvement of a new gun safety law which is the first such measure in nearly 30 years and a bill to address the toxic effects of “burn pits” on war veterans. Burn pits were the Pentagon’s way of disposing of plastics, rubber, chemicals, and medical waste collected during wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The toxic smoke caused cancer and respiratory illnesses amongst soldiers, and veterans have been fighting for medical reimbursements and disability pay. While the practice of burning toxic waste has gone down, it hasn’t been abandoned by the Defense Department.Much of the legislative drought on Capitol Hill caused by a couple of intransigent senators from Biden’s party is finally over as his ambitious domestic agenda gets converted into reality.
On the foreign policy front, after a disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, Biden won praise for uniting Europe behind US leadership to support Ukraine against Russia. Last week, the Senate approved the entry of Sweden and Finland into NATO, with Republicans supporting the expansion. The vote was 95-1. On 1 August, the US President announced that a drone strike had killed Al-Qaeda’s Chief Ayman al-Zawahri and brought “one more measure of closure” to the families of 9/11 victims. The killing of Zawahri in Kabul not only showed the Taliban’s complicity in continuing to harbour Al-Qaeda terrorists but also US capabilities to conduct over-the-horizon operations. But the critical question facing the Democrats is: Will the successes make a difference in the midterm elections come November? Biden’s approval ratings have rebounded to 40 percent, which is still considered a low going into the midterms, but Democrats are more upbeat now than they were in May when he was at 36 percent, his lowest since becoming President. The biggest gains—9 points—are amongst Democrats, meaning the flock is returning to an extent. The political firmament has certainly changed to an extent. After playing defence for more than a year, the Democrats are suddenly on the offensive. Biden’s messengers are doing what they can to emphasise the wins with the burst of legislation designed to appeal to the people. Investments to revive the semiconductor industry under the Chips and Science Act with incentives for research and manufacturing are part of an industrial policy to boost the domestic industry and regain leadership. The idea is to bring jobs back and shorten the supply chains.The impressive list of bills covers climate change, health insurance, semiconductors, science, broadband, tax equity, and manufacturing, amongst other pressing issues.
Although the US invented the semiconductor, today, it produces only 10 percent of the world’s supply, with almost 75 percent coming from East Asian countries. The Biden administration said at the outset its main agenda was to invest at home and regain the scientific and technological edge the US once enjoyed by spending more on research and development. In 2020, the US spent less than 1 percent of GDP on R&D compared to the 2 percent in the 1960s. While Biden has reason to celebrate the turnaround, it is too soon to say whether the Democrats can retain the House and the Senate. Republicans have already begun pounding the pavement after The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raided former president Donald Trump’s residence in Florida to recover “classified” documents he had taken from the White House. Conspiracy-minded Republican supporters of Trump have claimed the FBI was “planting” evidence against him. The incendiary domestic political mix in America because of hyper-polarisation has diminished the power and prestige of even the top institutions where the FBI is seen as an instrument of the party in power, not an independent entity doing its job. As the Democrats celebrate their victory, the Republicans are busy finding ways to diminish and dent their accomplishments.Investments to revive the semiconductor industry under the Chips and Science Act with incentives for research and manufacturing are part of an industrial policy to boost the domestic industry and regain leadership.
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Seema Sirohi is a columnist based in Washington DC. She writes on US foreign policy in relation to South Asia. Seema has worked with several ...
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