All four of the Democrats in the San Diego County congressional delegation expressed support for President Biden’s “Build Back Better” framework Thursday, though concerns were expressed over parts that were left out.
Biden unveiled a $1.75 trillion social investment plan that he promised would unify the party. The framework includes $555 billion in tax credits to spur conversion to clean energy, free preschool, expanded home care for the elderly, and child-care assistance, all financed by new taxes on corporations.
Reps. Sara Jacobs, Mike Levin, Scott Peters and Juan Vargas all expressed support, and pointed to key parts they had championed, but Vargas remained among the progressives holding a separate bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure bill hostage to final agreement on social spending.
“I fully support the Build Back Better Act that was released this afternoon,” said Jacobs, who represents the 53rd District in central San Diego County. “My team and I have read through the bill text, and I am excited and grateful that it includes so many important provisions for American families and workers.
“I will proudly vote for this bill when it comes to the House floor,” she said.
Peters, who has led centrists in opposition to Medicare drug price controls that in the end were left out, called Biden’s framework “very promising” but said key details remain to be worked out.
“Congress must work to include critical provisions left out of the framework: paid leave, carbon pricing, greater investment in the Child Tax Credit, and sensible prescription drug reform,” said Peters, who represents the 52nd District in coastal SanDiego.
Rep. Mike Levin, who serves the 49th district in north coastal San Diego, said the country is “on the verge of passing historic, transformative legislation.”
“Both the Build Back Better Act and the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act include key local priorities I fought for to support North County San Diego and south Orange County, and I’m proud we are closer than ever to delivering on those priorities,” he said.
Many of those priorities, including another desalination plant and water recycling investment, are in the infrastructure act, which progressives continue to hold hostage to achieving more social investment.
Vargas, who represents the 51st District in south San Diego County, and other progressives argued that withholding their votes on the infrastructure bill is the only leverage they have to ensure passage of the most comprehensive social spending and climate package.
“I don’t trust what the senators are going to do,” Vargas told The Hill. “In fact, to be fair to the senators, they haven’t said they were going to vote in favor of this thing anyway.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had set a vote on the infrastructure bill on Thursday, but plans to reschedule it following further negotiations.
Rep. Darrell Issa, the only Republican in the local delegation, did not issue a statement, but his party has consistently opposed the social spending bill and many do not support the infrastructure bill either.