America’s climate-plus spending bill is flawed but essential

path through Congress, a giant tax-and-spend package is on the verge of being . It will be America’s first significant climate law and a cornerstone of President Joe Biden’s agenda. Just weeks ago the bill seemed dead, but a backroom deal brought it back to life. It cleared the Senate along party lines by a single vote. The House looks set to approve it on August 12th, after we go to press (see United States section). As a feat of legislative legerdemain, it is impressive.What of the law itself? It has many imperfections, most of which stem from to keep it alive. But it also scores two big achievements—a semblance of health-care sanity and America’s most serious effort yet to face up to . And these easily outweigh the flaws.