After a marathon “vote-a-rama” that lasted into the afternoon of August 7, the US Senate passed the Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act by 51 votes to 50. Vice President Kamala Harris broke the tie in an evenly divided chamber.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Senator Bernie Sanders tried and failed to get several amendments included in the bill and at one point threatened the success of the legislation. However, the Vermont senator, who regularly switches between Independent and Democrat, grudgingly agreed to go along.
The Act carries a hefty price tag – in the hundreds of billions. The Congressional Bidget Office says its overall impact on inflation will be minimal. The bill also provides for a big expansion of the IRS and will raise taxes on most Americans.
