Biden moves a little closer to the center to get the Republicans he needs in 2024

So far they were right. But some lawmakers are still reeling.

“I think the devil is in the details, let’s see what happens,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said in an interview. “But did he make a decision that progressives disagree with? Absolutely. Let’s see what happens next year.”

The growing chasm between the president and his progressive base provides a window into how the Biden world views the looming presidential race. As the Democratic Party adjusts to a divided government, the president has seen his Democratic predecessors, including one he served as vice president, plot similar schemes, but some of his own party’s hopes It seems that they are comfortable defying it.

The most important flashpoint within the party is crime, which is emerging as a crucial issue ahead of next year’s elections.

Initially, the White House announced it would oppose the Republican-led crime resolution against the District of Columbia on the grounds that it was a violation of the city’s autonomy.A majority of House Democrats voted against the bill. Then Biden abruptly earlier this month said he would sign the bill once it got to his desk, and he abruptly changed his face. The president said he would continue to support D.C.’s statehood and autonomy, but he could not support sweeping reforms of the city council, including lowering the maximum statutory sentence for robbery, carjacking and other crimes.

The furor from progressives suddenly turned violent, with many saying they were caught off-guard by Biden’s decision after the House had already cast its vote.

“If the president supports Washington D.C. becoming a state, he should govern as such. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) tweeted. “There are many places to pass laws that the President may object to. He should respect the people’s government in DC as he would anywhere else.”

But Mr. Biden’s changes reflect growing concerns among Democrats who fear being labeled vulnerable to crime. Last November, several House elections centered around crime concerns in New York went Republican. Just days before the president voiced his opposition to his DC bill, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot withdrew from running for re-election.

Biden’s team has long guarded against accusations of complacency on the issue. He has long denounced liberal calls to “don’t fund the police” and has always linked calls for police reform with support for law enforcement. White House aides believed the DC bill was too extreme and did not reflect the current mood of the nation.

Sen. Tim KaneDemocrats facing re-election for the Virginia seat in 2024 defended Biden’s recent decision to sign legislation overturning DC’s criminal law reforms. He noted that even the city’s mayor vetoed the bill as it passed Congress.

“I don’t see it as a big political or electoral strategy. [for Biden]I just see it on merit,” Kane said. “I can understand why he would do such a thing.”

The White House downplayed disagreements, saying Democrats remained united on key issues such as Social Security and Medicare protections, and how progressives rallied over the budget Biden announced last week. The White House Legislative Director, Louisa Terrell, clarified that the president was “consistent, he’s the same person from the campaign to the White House.”

“We are in constant contact with Hill,” said Terrell. “We try to be respectful. We are all part of the family. increase. And we will move forward and work together. ”

But some Democrats worry the president is starting to veer to the right on immigration. The Biden administration struggled last year to contain a record surge in immigration at the border. Illegal border crossings have plunged over the past two months under new rules, but administration officials said the lifting of key pandemic-era entry restrictions in May could further accelerate the surge in immigration. I am concerned that there is

Some Democrats are already wary of tougher rules the Biden administration plans to implement for asylum-seeking immigrants. I am angry that you are considering reopening.

manager Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash), Judy Chu (California D), and Nanette Barragan (Democratic, Calif.) — The Chairs of Congress’ Progressive Party Caucus, Congress’ Asia Pacific American Caucus, and Congress’ Hispanic Caucus call on the Biden administration to reject “this wrong approach.” issued a joint statement.

“We should not go back to the failed policies of the past,” lawmakers said. “There is no safe and humane way to detain families and children, and such detention is not a deterrent to migration.”

The White House was quick to point out that no final decision had been made on family detention. It added that it was responding to a court order that resulted from it.

Other Democrats said Biden’s election earlier this week would halt drilling on federal land by approving a massive $8 billion plan to extract 600 million barrels of oil from state-owned land in Alaska. He was furious that he had returned to his pledge.

The Alaska site, known as the Willow Project, would be one of the few drilling contracts Biden freely approved without a court or congressional order. It holds a lease on the land, and government lawyers have argued that refusal to permit it could lead to lawsuits and cost the government as much as $5 billion.

It did little to calm the anger of the left.

manager maxwell frost The first Generation Z member of Congress (D-Fla.) said he was “extremely disappointed” that Biden had broken his promises to both environmentalists and young voters.

“Youth voter turnout is at its highest in 2020 and promises like ‘no more drilling on federal land’ have made young people support him,” Frost, 26, tweeted this week. “That promise was broken.”

Some progressives have expressed concern over the departure of former Chief of Staff Ron Klein, a prominent Biden ally, from the White House. But some believe his relationship with the White House will continue to be solid, with some leftists praising Biden’s move to back Silicon Valley Bank.

“I see what the president is doing as maintaining a steady hand in the midst of the financial crisis. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), when asked by POLITICO about Biden’s decisions on crime and drilling.

The art of compromise came naturally as Sen. Biden. Biden prioritized his bipartisanship during his first two years in office, even when Democrats dominated both Congressional branches. Ignoring the voices of protest from within his own party, Biden often reaches across the aisle and is rewarded with several bipartisan victories, including a $1 trillion infrastructure bill and a modest gun reform package. I was.

The ability to pass many future bills was severely limited by November’s midterm elections, when Republicans won a narrow victory in the House. And while Biden’s budget was largely perceived as ambitious, his one liberal priority, student loan relief, now seems destined to be overruled by the Supreme Court.

Pervasive progressive resentment ensues as Democrats continue to wait for Biden to make his intentions official about 2024. I declare that I told my best friend. But while the formation of the Republican nominee has been delayed, his final decision timeline continues as aides point out that Biden does not face any serious major challengers from the left. It seems we are late.

Advisors initially looked at the announcement coming out to coincide with February’s State of the Union address, or perhaps the campaign’s financial reporting deadline next month. or are discussing a decision in June.