Opinion | The First Thing Democrats Should Do to Show Theyre Serious on Affordability
In his election night victory speech, Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York said he and his fellow Democrats would fight to “make this country affordable for every single American.” They have an opportunity to start now, before they take control of Congress in January.They should seize it.The Senate this week is debating a bill on a subject that is more important than it sounds: permitting reform.
The bill would make it easier to build solar energy farms, battery storage, power lines and more.As a result, it would reduce energy prices.
The status quo is expensive, dirty and unstable.The country needs to build a lot of big, new things to make its future cheaper and cleaner.The bill has the support of some of the Senate’s most environmentally minded members — and of the White House.
This political miracle reflects years of bipartisan negotiations, false starts and near misses.But following their party’s whopping midterm victory, some Democrats are tempted to scrap this legislation and wait to act until they take control of Congress next year.
Democrats would then draft a new bill more to the liking of some environmental groups.The current bill has a good chance to pass the Senate.By a margin of 73 to 25, senators approved a procedural measure on Monday, with a final vote expected in coming weeks.
The situation in the House is murkier.Among the potential no votes on the bill is Mr.
Jeffries, the Democratic leader, who has raised concerns about it.The bill’s Democratic skeptics are making a mistake.President Trump would almost certainly veto a follow-up bill next year.
And time matters, especially for the climate.Congress should pass this bill now.
It can then return next year and pass other bills that would do even more good.The country’s current permitting regime is the result of many good intentions.Legislators wrote laws intended to protect water, air, endangered species and precious land.
Over the years, though, the rules have become so...