Manchin says he won't back $1.75 trillion economic agenda bill without 'greater clarity' about its e [View all]

[bluewater]

Last edited Mon Nov 1, 2021, 03:39 PM - Edit history (2)

Source: CNN

Sen. Joe Manchin said he won't support the $1.75 trillion reconciliation bill Democrats are negotiating until there is "greater clarity" about the impact it will have on the country's national debt and the economy, a warning sign for Democratic leaders trying to pass a pair of legislative packages key to President Joe Biden's agenda as soon as this week.

"Simply put, I will not support a bill that is this consequential without thoroughly understanding the impact that it will have on our national debt, our economy and most importantly all of our American people," Manchin said at a news conference Monday afternoon.

Manchin also called on the House of Representatives to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill and warned, in an implicit rebuke to progressives, that "holding this bill hostage" won't work in getting him to support the larger social spending and economic package. Manchin has been non-committal about that larger package since Biden released a framework, but reiterated major concerns today.

The moderate Democrat from West Virginia has been coy about his views of this proposal, despite months of efforts by Biden and his team to court the senator to back a pared back plan. But Manchin has been concerned about a number of proposals, including an expansion of Medicare.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/01/politics/joe-manchin-biden-agenda/index.html

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So, Manchin shows us exactly where he stands... right smack in the way blocking the Build Back Better reconciliation bill.

After all the negotiations and all the concessions made to appease him and all the one on one talks with the President at the White House, Manchin still flat out refuses to support President Biden's agenda.

So much for his "negotiating in good faith"...

Note: This was posted with the complete original headline, but CNN updated the article and now leads with the headline:

Manchin warns he may vote against Biden social safety net plan as he criticizes key aspects

Sen. Joe Manchin said he won't support the $1.75 trillion social safety net expansion bill Democrats are negotiating until there is "greater clarity" about the impact it will have on the country's national debt and the economy, casting major doubt about whether President Joe Biden can get his agenda through Congress.

At a news conference on Monday afternoon, Manchin laid out fundamental concerns over the approach that Biden and his party are taking in their sweeping agenda. He rejected the party's push to expand social programs and castigated Democrats for using "gimmicks" to hide the true cost of the plan and said far more time is needed to evaluate its economic impact to guard against potential negative consequences.

Despite months of a lobbying campaign by the White House to win over Manchin, including by cutting the price tag in half and making cuts to key programs, the West Virginia moderate's comments indicate that Democrats may never be able to win his support on this proposal.

"I'm open to supporting a final bill that helps move our country forward, but I am equally open to voting against a bill that hurts our country," he said in a warning shot to his party.

The comments come at a critical time for Biden's agenda and are a major blow to party leaders who had been hoping to imminently pass the social safety net plan along with a separate $1 trillion infrastructure bill.

Democratic leaders had been trying to pass both measures, which are key to Biden's agenda, as soon as this week. Manchin's comments make clear that is unlikely to happen.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/01/politics/joe-manchin-biden-agenda/index.html