With a 50-50 vote with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote, the wide-ranging Inflation Reduction Act passed a key step in the Senate to bring it to the floor for debate, taking it one step closer to President Joe Biden’s desk, the Wall Street Journal reports.
The bill will allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices; promote clean energy initiatives that will cut fossil fuel emissions by up to 40% by 2030; and implement a 15% corporate minimum tax, all while lowering federal deficits. All 50 Democrat Senators have committed to supporting the bill with no further changes.
West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin stated that he would not support any efforts by Republicans to alter the bill or offer any amendments to the bill, saying that the bill is properly design and will accomplish many important goals.