Voting rights advocates say Biden should have taken a more forceful approach far earlier. They have been deeply frustrated that the White House prioritized passing a $1.75-trillion social welfare and climate bill, known as “Build Back Better.”
That legislation was derailed in December by Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) after months of negotiation, though Democrats have been holding out hope that the White House and Senate leaders might still salvage a deal. Before that, the president spent his political capital on successfully pushing through a $1-trillion infrastructure law.
“What we saw was a rigid adherence to their agenda, because they wanted to push it through,” said Nsé Ufot, chief executive of the New Georgia Project voter advocacy group.
“What we’re seeing now is the pivot,” Ufot added. “It should have come earlier, but they’re pivoting and that’s important.”
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