But Republicans framed it as a Democratic ask, something for which they could extract enormous concessions. Raising the debt ceiling was also something every independent analyst agreed was necessary to keep the economy healthy. Think back to the debt ceiling fight of 2011. But thereвЂ™s little reason to think Republicans will cooperate. Now House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is saying that it wasnвЂ™t a concession at all to give up funding for states, that governors are just being вЂњimpatient,вЂќ and that the next stimulus bill will contain state and local aid вЂњin a big way.вЂќ She envisions a thoughtful, phased approach, based on demonstrated need. They say in the press that these are concessions, things they are giving up, but why should anyone else adopt that absurd framing?Д«y theatrically вЂњconcedingвЂќ money for hospitals, Republicans get the optics of a bipartisan achievement while ensuring that they define the limits of the possible.

Republicans know such aid is necessary just as well as Democrats. Why on earth should they be something Democrats push for and Republicans resist?Д«y theatrically вЂњconcedingвЂќ money for hospitals, Republicans get the optics of a bipartisan achievement while ensuring that they define the limits of the possible Having done so, they had none left over to win funds for cash-strapped states, help for the US Post Office, or any number of progressive priorities.ДЄs Weissmann says, вЂњwhatвЂ™s frustrating about this deal is that it seemingly consists of things any rational person should want.вЂќ Aid for hospitals and ramped-up testing are obvious, glaring national needs. They used it to вЂњwinвЂќ more money for hospitals and coronavirus testing. Republicans needed it renewed it was their headline stimulus achievement.Дemocrats had leverage. The Paycheck Protection Program, the primary vehicle for getting money to struggling small businesses, had run out of money (after being poorly administered). Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Aid for hospitals is not some Democratic wish-list itemДЄt Slate, Jordan Weissmann captures the sense of dismay with which the left greeted the phase 4 (or is it 3.5?) stimulus passed last week. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer need to take a tougher stance. Sooner or later, if Democrats donвЂ™t want to get steamrolled, played, and blamed for the next six months, they are going to have to call some of those bluffs. There is an enormous amount of bluffing going on among Republicans, who need stimulus measures just as much as Democrats. The fear, like most Democratic fears, is overblown.

вЂњWeвЂ™re terrified that weвЂ™ll look like obstructionists,вЂќ one Democratic Senate aide told Politico reporter Michael Grunwald. Efforts to secure even those basic measures are being denounced as hostage-taking, and Democrats in the House, forever attendant to their skittish purple-district вЂњmoderates,вЂќ have proven typically easy to scare. Democrats are being baited into negotiating вЂњvictoriesвЂќ that consist of measures every reasonable economist agrees is necessary.

There is no political debate in the US more important right now than the fight over how the federal government should spend to help the economy recover.Д¬urrently, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is setting the pace of stimulus and the terms of the debate.

Gaslight vapor