Speaker 1: (00:00)
Congressional leaders have been debating the contents of a $1.75 trillion social benefits package. While efforts to finalize the bills have hit snags over their ambitious scope signs are emerging that Democrats may move to vote on the framework by the end of the week. And while Congress hammers out the details of the landmark infrastructure bill global leaders are meeting at the UN climate change conference in Scotland to discuss global efforts to combat climate change. An issue that is providing a major sticking point in the debate in Washington, U S representative Mike Levin, who represents parts of Northern San Diego and Southern orange counties spoke to KPBS mid day edition, hosted Jade Heineman about the social benefits package. Here's that interview. How involved
Speaker 2: (00:48)
Have you been in negotiating the social benefits package?
Speaker 3: (00:52)
Well, I've been very involved in, uh, in fact, just before coming on with you, we had a discussion with the speaker. We're trying to put the finishing touches on the build back better act as we are calling this legislation that deals with, uh, climate and childcare and healthcare. I'm extremely encouraged by, uh, where we are. And, uh, I think we're moving forward quickly here in the house. So with a package that we can be very proud of, that's consistent with our values and also with the spirit of the president's agenda. And then my hope is that we're going to get this across the finish line in the house and, uh, that the Senate, uh, will also pass this legislation as soon as possible. We'll get it to the president's desk for signature.
Speaker 2: (01:33)
And what contents of the social benefits package are most important to your constituency in your opinion?
Speaker 3: (01:38)
Well, look, I think, uh, climate childcare and healthcare are all critically important, uh, addressing the climate crisis $555 billion worth of, uh, new spending, whether it be tax incentives or other benefits to dramatically incentivize things like electric vehicles and solar and wind and battery storage and all the rest, uh, money for resilience. It's so important for a coastal community like ours, uh, in Southern California. Uh, I'm also very encouraged that our American, uh, coasts and oceans protection act, which would ban all new drilling off the coast in California and elsewhere. That's made it in the house version as well. It's on page 851 for anybody that's interested. Uh, but also that we're making transformative investments in childcare. So often I've heard through the pandemic that a lot of people are very concerned about going back to work because of the cost of childcare. And this bill, if you make under $300,000 a year, would cap your childcare expenses at 7%, no more than 7%.
Speaker 3: (02:39)
It would also extend the child tax credit for working families, providing them with a monthly payment for the next year. And it would also for the first time in American history provided free and universal preschool. That is so critically important. And we know Jane that when we make investments in children, those are some of the best dollars we can spend because they will yield long-term economic return. Uh, when you look at the long-term outcomes of children, when you invest in them, when they are young, it is really astounding. The long-term implications of that. Finally healthcare doing all we can to reduce prescription drug costs. That's clearly been a very important facet of all this and doing all we can to expand upon the success of the affordable care act and other things like salt. I'm very hopeful that we have a deal on the state and local tax deduction that is dramatically impacted so many families in San Diego and not just wealthy families, but middle-class families who are stuck now paying much higher taxes because they fall under the $10,000 cap for the state and local tax deduction. So there's a lot in this bill and I'm so excited to get it across the finish line. So I really can begin explaining the benefits of it in the months ahead,
Speaker 2: (03:51)
Chunk of climate spending and the package is missing some key support. What are your thoughts on this hesitancy to commit to climate forward spending while global leaders discuss the issue on the world stage at the UN climate crisis?
Speaker 3: (04:05)
Well, I just had an opportunity to meet with several representatives from various countries talking about this very issue. And I tried to reinforce to them that we are committed as the United States to leading again on climate action. That's exactly what the build back better act would do. Remember the $555 billion being proposed is several times greater than the, the largest investment we've ever made in climate action. That was around $80 billion as part of the 2009 recovery act. And so this is a magnitude of order greater than that. And I think it will put us on a path to meet our nationally determined contribution to the international community of reducing our emissions 50 to 52% by 2030 on path to zero net carbon by 2050. And I think that we are going to get there. Jay, I know that, uh, Senator mansion, uh, has spoken, you know, very, uh, uh, unique perspective that he has from West Virginia. But I think at the end of the day, when the president of United States comes to us in the house and says that he will get all 50 senators on board with this framework, I think I trust the judgment of the present United States to make sure that that happened.
Speaker 2: (05:16)
Sure. Pelosi recently announced that paid family leave would be added back to the social benefits framework, following significant backlash after its initial removal. What are your thoughts on this?
Speaker 3: (05:27)
Well, what I've heard this morning is that four weeks are going to be added into the house bill that we'll be voting on very soon. And I think that's absolutely the right thing to do. The United States is one of only six industrialized nations in the world, not to have a paid family leave policy. Uh, and it is, uh, absolutely essential, uh, that we, uh, that we do this for so many who are, uh, working and who are trying to raise a family. It's the very least we can do. And
Speaker 2: (05:56)
Another point of contention with the bill is in regards to lifting the cap on the federal tax
Speaker 3: (06:01)
Deduction allowed for state and local taxes. Where do you stand on that? You look at the current law, there is a $10,000 cap, which has dramatically hurt the ability of a lot of middle and upper middle class people in San Diego county and Southern California. Because if you own a home, uh, you don't have to be really very wealthy at all for that cap, uh, to impact your tax bill in a negative way. So the way the current law is, is we would have that 10,000, our cap for the next, uh, I believe it's four years. And then for the following five years, there would be complete return to deductability. So the question that we asked is what could we do on a ten-year basis that would be revenue neutral that would not add a single dollar to the deficit or the debt. And the answer is that you could have a cap of $72,500. So that is the solution that I think we've landed on, that I'm going to be pushing. We can restore that tax fairness for Californians without increasing our deficit
Speaker 2: (07:00)
Has faced some criticism over the scope of its spending and for being over complicated. Do you agree with,
Speaker 3: (07:07)
Well, no, I, I think that, uh, these are big challenges that require bold solutions. And I think the principle here is that, uh, we will have a bill that is fully paid for, and that will not increase taxes on people who make under $400,000 a year. And I think that, uh, when you look at childcare healthcare and climate, uh, these are very significant concerns for the average American. And we are going to address them with this legislation. We are going to advance this legislation and I trust the present United States when he says that he will be able to get all 50 senators on board with this framework.
Speaker 2: (07:42)
I've been speaking with Congressman Mike Levin representative Levon. Thank you so much for joining us today.
Speaker 1: (07:48)
That was midday edition, cohost Jade Hyman mid day edition also spoke to democratic representative Scott Peters about the prescription drug pricing portion of the package. Here's what he said.
Speaker 4: (08:00)
The relief we're giving seniors at the drug counter is exactly the same as the original bill. Uh, we're doing that while we also preserve the incentives to invest in all of those secures, uh, that the private sector is working on in San Diego county, 68,000 jobs, 175,000 jobs indirectly dependent on life sciences.
Speaker 1: (08:18)
San Diego county is sole Republican representative Darrell. Eissa said the following in a statement about the package of bills, quote, the million dollar spending mashup is a completely moving target. The product of daily backroom drafting done by Democrats only unquote
Speaker 5: (08:37)
[inaudible].
