Big Money’s War on the Build Back Better Plan – Inequality.org

As the nations largest grassroots member organization, with more than a million members in 32 states, we see a future with room for all, where every one of us can thrive. But none of this will happen unless we make the long-delayed investments our communities need. The Build Back Better plan is a down payment on our brighter future.

In our new report,Behind The Curtain: The Corporate Plot to Upend Democracy, we zero in on whos spending big to stop key parts of the Biden plan: including fairer taxes, drug pricing, health care, housing, and immigration, as well as big investments in green jobs and our environment.

We name the bad actors and show how they undermine our democracy and our economy. All across the country, our members are taking this message to the doorsteps of corporations to tell them weve had enough.

Twenty corporations and their associations led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and the National Association of Realtors have spent over $201 million on lobbying so far this year.

The pharmaceutical and health care industries alone which oppose the Biden administrations efforts to lower drug prices and expand health coverage have spent $171 million in 2021 on lobbying, more than any other industry. They employ 1,500 lobbyists in Washington three for every member of Congress.

Meanwhile, people in the United States pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs and health care. That aint right!

A lot of attention has gone to the price tag of the Build Back Better plan: $3.5 trillion over 10 years. But thats not deficit spending its funded by reversing tax cuts for the very rich. Andexperts agreethe package will pay for itself.

It will spur economic activity, unlike Donald Trumps 2017 tax cuts, which add $2.3 trillion to the national debt.As a direct result of Trumps giveaways, 82 ultra-rich families have been able to avoid paying over $1 billion in taxes, and many large corporations pay no taxes at all.

The Build Back Better plan will reverse Trumps giveaways to raise money for expanded health benefits and a permanent Child Tax Credit. More savings come by allowing Medicare and the Department of Health and Human Services to negotiate drug prices, whichwill save $450 billionandreduce pricesfor branded drugs by 55 percent.

The United States is more unequal than ever. If were going to heal the wounds in our economy and our society, we need Congress and the president to deliver what the people want and need: assistance and investments so we can survive and thrive. That is exactly what the Biden Build Back Better plan does.

Our economy, our democracy, and our lives all hang in the balance. Make no mistake: the time is now. Its corporations versus the people in this Build Back Battle, and its time for the people to win.

This op-ed was distributed by OtherWords.org

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Big Money's War on the Build Back Better Plan - Inequality.org