Scoop: "How about zero?" Manchin, Sanders get heated behind closed doors
(Snip)
Driving the news: Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), chairman of a Senate Appropriations subcommittee, described the incident as "a difference in opinion."
"Joe said, 'I'm comfortable with nothing,' Bernie said, 'We need to do three-and-a-half [trillion dollars].' The truth is both of them are in different spots."
Manchin said, "I'm comfortable with zero," forming a "zero" with his thumb and index finger, Tester reiterated, saying he believes the West Virginia Democrat can live with himself if the Senate doesn't pass any of the president's $2 trillion to $3.5 trillion package.
Another witness, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said, "There was a vigorous, 10-minute discussion. Bernie said, '$6 trillion.'"
"[Manchin] said, 'We shouldn't do it at all,'" Coons recalled, himself making the goose-egg symbol as he recounted the conversation.
https://www.axios.com/manchin-sanders-reconciliation-fight-789c8441-fa49-404f-9d36-4adaa8e1d908.html
= new reply since forum marked as read
They take far more in federal aid than they ever pay in, yet they're the biggest cry babies about federal spending.
It never occurs to them that they're permanently on the wrong side of the balance sheet. Perhaps some well targeted budget cuts to red states would grab their attention? 
Enact a law that no state could receive more than 150% in federal aid over whatever they pay in to the treasury in taxes. That would start them thinking, wouldn't it? 
