It's bread and circuses. Now they can tell their supporters that they tried but "those darn Republicans kept it from happening! Vote harder next time and we'll make it happen!"

When the Democrats next have a majority across the board, they'll have some convenient reason they can't reintroduce the bill. They've followed this pattern for decades. Democrats are the 'good cop', Republicans are the 'bad cop', but they're all 'cops'. They're ultimately on the same team and serve the same interests - those of the rich.