Schumer’s $3.5 trillion balancing act

A US budget bill figure; a fire in an Iraq Covid-19 ward kills dozens.

Democrats have come up with a budget bill figure; dozens are dead after a fire in an Iraqi Covid-19 ward.   Tonight's Sentences was written by Gabby Birenbaum. TOP NEWS Democrats' $3.5 trillion human infrastructure bill     Alex Wong/Getty Images Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that Senate Democrats had come up with a $3.5 trillion budget bill that tackles much of President Joe Biden's proposed "soft infrastructure" agenda. [AP / Alan Fram and Lisa Mascaro] With a 50-50 split Senate, Democrats' budget resolution — which can be passed via reconciliation and is not subject to the filibuster — needs the support of all 50 Senate Democrats. The agreement strikes a middle ground between Budget Committee Chair Sen. Bernie Sanders's proposed $6 trillion and centrist Sen. Joe Manchin's preference for something under $2 trillion. [The Hill / Jordain Carney] Sanders said he was proud to be a part of crafting the bill and that it represented a "pivotal moment in American history." House progressives could still derail the bill, but they have said they do not want to operate as obstructionists and still need to see the details. [Bloomberg / Erik Wasson, Steven T. Dennis, and Laura Davison] Meanwhile, moderates on the Budget Committee are represented by Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), who noted that the package will be paid for — a Manchin priority — and that taxes will not be raised on anyone making below $400,000. [Politico / Heather Caygle, Marianne Levine, and Sarah Ferris] Though details of the plan will not be released until the framework is agreed on, Schumer said it expands health, education, and family policies, as well as targets taxes on corporations and the wealthy. [Washington Post / Tony Rumm, Seung Min Kim, and Jeff Stein] The budget extends the American Recovery Program's child tax credits, universalizes prekindergarten, makes two years of community college free, expands funds for caregivers, raises capital gains and inheritance taxes, and contains provisions dedicated to climate policy. [NYT / Emily Cochrane] On health care, the budget does not create the public option Biden campaigned on, but it does expand Medicare's coverage of visual, dental, and hearing insurance. [USA Today / Savannah Behrmann and Joey Garrison] Now comes the work of selling the package to all Democrats and hammering out the timeline for passing both the budget deal and the bipartisan infrastructure framework. [CNN / Ryan Nobles and Lauren Fox] More than 90 dead in Iraqi hospital fire At least 92 people have died from a fire that swept through an Iraqi hospital after an oxygen tank in the intensive care unit exploded, per officials. [CNN / Aqeel Najim and Mohammed Tawfeeq] The fire broke out in the isolation ward, where coronavirus victims were being treated. A health official said most of the patients were hooked up to ventilators and unable to move when the fire came. [NYT / Jane Arraf] This is the second fire in three months in Iraq; a hospital blaze in April killed more than 80 people in Baghdad. Victims' relatives have expressed anger and frustration over the lack of safety protocols in the health care facilities. [BBC News] Years of war, sanctions, and instability in Iraq have led to mismanagement and neglect in health facilities, raising the potential for devastating accidents. The health ward where the fire took place had opened just three months prior. [AP / Abdulrahman Zeyad and Samya Kullab] Many in Iraq blame corruption in the government's well-funded public health sector, where the revenue and budgets they receive do not match up with the poor quality that citizens see. [Guardian / Martin Chulov] MISCELLANEOUS Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sens. Ron Wyden (OR), and Cory Booker (NJ) released draft legislation to legalize marijuana at the federal level. [Politico / Natalie Fertig] Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is selling merchandise featuring the phrase "Don't Fauci my Florida." [The Hill / Lexi Lonas] 2020 was the deadliest year on record for drug overdoses in the US, with more than 93,000 people dying. [BuzzFeed News / Dan Vergano] Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was named MVP as the American League beat the National League 5-2 in the MLB All-Star Game. [NYT / Tyler Kepner] Support our journalism Reader contributions help keep Vox and newsletters like Sentences free for all. Support our work from as little as $3. Contribute VERBATIM "This is the most significant piece of legislation passed since the Great Depression, and I'm delighted to be part of having helped to put it together. A lot of work remains." [Sen. Bernie Sanders on Democrats' $3.5 trillion budget framework] LISTEN TO THIS     An accidental discovery on a nighttime walk led one scientist and his team to wonder: How many mammals fluoresce under ultraviolet light? The list keeps growing, but scientists still aren't sure why these furry creatures glow.  [Spotify / Noam Hassenfeld] Read more from Vox The American workweek revolution has already begun   One Good Thing: A true crime book about the problems with true crime books   The great American cool   Shein, the Chinese fast fashion giant, explained   Trump has found his January 6 martyr     This email was sent to edwardlorilla1986.paxforex@blogger.com. Manage your email preferences, or unsubscribe to stop receiving all emails from Vox. If you value Vox's unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring contribution.   View our Privacy Notice and our Terms of Service.   Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036. Copyright © 2021. 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