As divisive as political discourse is, the policy divide between the two parties seems narrower today than at any time in recent memory. Bipartisan bills on immigration, energy permits, and the child tax credit have been negotiated and are waiting for the political window to reopen. Foreign aid spending and military spending were both passed last year with strong bipartisan support. Same with the 2021 infrastructure bill and the 2022 CHIPS Act. Both sides are anti-China, pro-India, and increasingly supportive of industrial policy and tariffs. Both talk about lowering housing costs, more funding for the police, and big tech issues. Neither party is proposing major changes to health care, K-12 or Social Security. College loan forgiveness is in the courts. Abortion is now provincial. GOP opposition to the IRA climate provision is imminent, as is EV funding. Dems are not proposing significant new climate policies. The Dems have made little anti-oil and gas policies but production continues to peak. Both say no new taxes for <$400k. A growing number of Rs have joined the Ds supporting the increase in corporate tax rates. Perhaps the biggest difference is how to pay for the TCJA extension: Dems want higher taxes on the rich; Trump wants global tariffs; the rest of the GOP was not specified. There are some differences for sure. Dems want more funding for housing and child care. The GOP wants more (albeit difficult) deportations. Dems can be more aggressive against mergers, health care costs, and unnecessary spending. The GOP wants to overhaul civil service laws. But there just aren't that many big mistakes in policy between the parties today. Perhaps that's why so little of this election cycle is about policy.
Here is the full tweet. I would add that the “ten percent tax” vs. “25% unrealized capital gains tax” is a big difference, but at least one of those won’t happen, even if Republicans don’t take the Senate.
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