Why are they doing this? They’re doing this for the same reason that they put paid and medical leave back in, and for the same reason they’re relying so heavily on budget gimmicks: Because they’re trying to push through sweeping political change with a House majority of eight and a tied Senate, because they need every vote they can find, and because, in this specific case, that means creating a targeted tax break for millionaires who live in the constituencies of three members from New York and New Jersey.

If they were sensible, Democrats would recognize that they don’t have the numbers, or the support, or the momentum to do what they are trying to do. But they’re not sensible. They’re off their meds. So they’re chaotically cobbling together whatever they think can get 218 votes in the House, and praying that Joe Manchin won’t mind if, like Ron Klain and the president, Nancy Pelosi makes a fool out of him once again.