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Why Are Progressives Declaring Victory?
What exactly have they won?
With the $1.9 trillion Covid relief package set to be signed into law, progressive lawmakers were asked to respond to some of the changes that had been made by the Senate to the original legislation. Changes such as the elimination of the $15 an hour minimum wage provision, the reduction of $400 unemployment insurance payments down to $300, and “further targeting” eligibility for the next round of stimulus checks in the midst of the greatest public health and economic crisis the country has faced in modern history. When addressing the changes, chair of the progressive caucus Representative Pramila Jayapal said that although she does not believe the changes made by Senate Democrats were good policy or good politics, she finished with “but we’ll take the win”, adding that she believes it is their work that made it as progressive as it is.
I’m sorry, but where exactly have progressive lawmakers “won”?
Whether it be in the context of the relief package or the Biden presidency overall, where is the progressive caucus able to point to real, substantive victories?
My goal is not to disparage lawmakers like Jayapal, AOC, Rashida Tlaib, or Ilhan Omar. I believe they have good intent and have the right policy goals in mind, but they are lawmakers who deserve to be…
