Progressive losses mount: Here are five big disappointments

Progressives faced a crushing defeat this week when Congress voted to approve a bipartisan debt limit deal that many in their caucus opposed.

This is the latest defeat for the left side in several months, where they lost not only policy concessions but also a recent high-profile election in Philadelphia.

The bruises have fueled concerns among some progressives that their influence is waning among Biden’s allies as the country prepares for another tumultuous election in 2024.

Here are five recent disappointments of the left.

Debt deal

Progressives suffered their latest defeat this week in passing the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which averted a national default. Although the left got some of what they wanted, the deal also left a lot to be desired from their perspective.

Many liberals wanted Biden to use the 14th Amendment to preserve benefits for working families but failed to come up with a viable alternative if the request fell through.

Some of those same voices expressed feeling alienated from the process and were quick to label it as a Republican-led deal, accusing the GOP of using “hostage” tactics to get it passed.

Left-wing lawmakers have finally warned that the party needs to figure out how to make significant changes before the same fight could happen again in two years. For now, it remains to be seen if Democratic leaders are interested in exploring any significant repairs.

Student loans

Few policies have fired up the progressive base like the prospect of tens of thousands of dollars in student loan forgiveness for millions of struggling students. It’s one of the main areas that young voters say is encouraging them to turn out in November’s midterms, helping to ensure the party’s control of the upper chamber and also reducing what many predicted would be a landslide. victory for the Republicans.

That excitement, however, came as several Republican-led states challenged Biden’s executive order offering between $10,000 and $20,000 in loan forgiveness to qualified borrowers, questioning the order’s viability.

Despite a federal judge dismissing the case, the issue has been tied up in several legal battles and moved to the Supreme Court, which is expected to issue a decision later this month. The episode left many uncertain whether a conservative majority would rule in favor of repeal.

The advances are a major blow to progressives who have fought through several campaign cycles and through Biden’s first term in office to provide debt relief for those with it.

Lawmakers on the left say this week only made matters worse. The debt ceiling agreement further changes the status of the plan by forcing borrowers to continue making payments in the summer.

Climate

Progressives have recently been frustrated by the Biden administration’s Mountain Valley Pipeline and the Willow Project, both of which have taken a hawkish stance against fears of their long-term environmental impact.

Things are off to a good start between climate activists and members of Biden’s inner circle, with both camps expressing hope early in his administration that they will share a common vision.

That optimism continued in the midterms after Biden secured a series of climate measures in the Inflation Reduction Act that pleased activists and reassured them about his strategy regarding the planet.

But in the run-up to the presidential election, Biden has gone in a direction that is troubling climate-conscious advocates and members of Congress. First, there was the announcement of the Willow Project, a large-scale, multi-billion-dollar Alaskan oil drilling proposal, which angered progressives who protested the move and fought the White House over its head.

And now, the bipartisan deal struck by Republicans to avoid default is also pushing the Mountain Valley Pipeline, reportedly with the help of centrist Sens. Joe Manchin (DW.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), big to the dismay of Progressive Caucus leaders and climate activists who oppose the natural gas venture.

Immigration

Progressives are outraged by Biden’s handling of the border, urging him to draw a sharper distinction between his position and the GOP.

The debate over Title 42 policy in particular has drawn strong reactions from both sides of the aisle and is expected to continue in the coming months. The border rule was created under former President Trump as part of his broader agenda to make it harder for migrants seeking asylum to cross the border into the United States.

But in the run-up to the presidential election, Biden has gone in a direction that is troubling climate-conscious advocates and members of Congress. First, there was the announcement of the Willow Project, a large-scale, multi-billion-dollar Alaskan oil drilling proposal, which angered progressives who protested the move and fought the White House over its head.

This week, a coalition of more than a dozen attorneys general in mostly GOP-controlled states announced it was suing the Biden administration over a rule they say makes it easier for migrants to enter the border. though newly designated “lawful channels” after Title 42 expired last week. month.

While progressives aren’t saying the new legal challenge is Biden’s fault, many on the left are still worried about the direction the administration will take on the border as the 2024 cycle heats up.

The Philadelphia mayor’s race

Progressives scored several high-profile victories last year in cities like Los Angeles, Boston and Chicago, challenging campaign orthodoxy that alienated voters and caused the party to lose ground.

But the left suffered a disappointing loss recently in the mayoral election in Philadelphia, where centrist mayoral candidate and former state representative Cherelle Parker prevailed over several liberal opponents, including the media-savvy teacher Helen Gym.

Crime, in particular, is a major point of contention within the party, with liberals struggling to change minds that their approach is better than a stronger stance on safety. public, including one favored by Parker. Democrats are striving for a balance between addressing voters’ concerns about rising crime rates and violence in urban pockets and providing a contrast to the Republicans’ criminal justice message.

Although the final record is mixed, Parker’s victory in Philadelphia could strengthen the argument of centrist Democrats that a tough on crime approach is the most applicable strategy in urban and suburban races.