Biden Concedes That Budget Must Be Lower Than $3.5 Trillion to Pass

President Joe Biden admitted during a Friday speech in Hartford, Connecticut that a $3.5 trillion price tag on his hallmark “Build Back Better” budget reconciliation bill will be unable to pass the Senate, where moderate members of his party have put up resistance to the bill for months. Most prominently, Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) have been firm in their refusal to support a $3.5 trillion budget bill, viewing such a large bill as too costly. “When I hear people say it costs $3.5 trillion, I’ll be honest with you, we’re probably not going to get $3.5 trillion this year,” Biden said. “We’re gonna get something less than that, but I’m going to negotiate,” he added. “I’m going to get it done.” Biden has been in negotiations with the moderates for months. Aside from a one-off visit to the House of Representatives, Biden’s legislative efforts have …