Washington- Senate Republicans Sunday blocked a $35 monthly cap on the cost of insulin in the private market to be included in Democrats’ economic tax and spending package, and voted an amendment to the measure during a marathon session leading up to it. to what Democrats hope will be final passage of the bill.
The Senate began on Saturday night considering more than 30 amendments to the Inflation Reduction Act, Democrats’ $700 billion legislation that aims to fight climate change, raise taxes on big business and tackle rising health care costs. .
Amid the proposed changes to the plan was the setting of the $35 per month limit for insulin, the expensive medication needed to treat diabetes. Seven Republican senators voted with all 50 Democrats to keep the price cap in the legislation: Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Cindy Hyde Smith of Mississippi, John Kennedy of Louisiana, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Dan Sullivan from Alaska.
However, by 57 to 43 votes, the provision failed to reach the 60 votes it took to waive special budget rules and include them in the bill. The House passed a similar cap on the price of insulin in April.
Democrats hope to pass their overall legislative package on Sunday, allowing the House to return briefly to Washington this week to approve it. His approval would give President Biden and congressional Democrats a major midterm election victory as they work to maintain control of Congress.
The legislation is the culmination of months of negotiations over Mr Biden’s domestic policy plan, which at times seemed dead but was revived late last month with the surprise announcement of an agreement between Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Joe Manchin, a moderate Democrat from West Virginia.
Democrats praise the plan as their response to fighting inflation and investing nearly $400 billion in the fight against climate change. The package allows Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices, extends enhanced health insurance subsidies that were set to expire at year-end, and imposes a 15% minimum tax on companies earning more than $1 billion each year. .
To encourage clean energy, the measure includes tax credits for the purchase of electric vehicles and the production of solar panels and wind turbines. It also offers discounts for consumers who buy energy-efficient appliances and provides $4 billion for drought relief.