The progressive agenda seemed more likely to succeed Monday after the House approved rules that would purportedly exempt policies like "Medicare for All" and the Green New Deal from a fiscal responsibility measure aimed at offsetting deficit increases with additional revenue.
Congress initially passed the "PAYGO" or pay-as-you-go rule in 1990 but it expired in 2002. Democrats later reinstated the rule in 2007 but former President Obama carved out room for the 2009 stimulus designed to absord the impact of the financial crisis.
The new exemption, approved on a party-line vote (217-206), applies to the COVID-19 response and efforts to address climate change.