Manchin infuriates Democrats
Manchin Infuriates Democrats
Progressive Democrats hate Manchin.
As negotiations between Senator Joe Manchin and President Biden about the Build Back Better Act drag on, Senate Democrats are becoming increasingly skeptical if the West Virginia Democrat will agree to the legislation.
According to reports by The Hill, a Democrat Senator, who spoke anonymously said that negotiations with Manchin weren’t “normal” which was frustrating Biden and the administration.
The Senator stated that Manchin would reveal he was open-minded about –– or liked –– certain proposals in the Bill, without making any progress in signing off on the package.
In the report by The Hill, another anonymous Democrat Senator said he had “no reason” to believe Manchin would agree to Build Back Better or changing Senate rules to circumvent a Republican filibuster on voting rights legislation.
After Manchin revealed he would not be supporting the BBB on Fox News in December, the Democratic Senator disclosed on West Virginia radio’s “Talkline” that he never signed off on a White House statement that claimed Manchin had “reiterated his support” for BBB on a framework level. Saying, instead, that it “was the President’s statement” and not his own.
These remarks seem to have left his colleagues bewildered, as Dick Durbin, Senate Majority Whip, said he didn’t know if Manchin wanted a deal, revealing that he was “still in the dark” about his colleague’s inclinations.
In an impromptu press briefing, Manchin refused to answer questions about BBB as he revealed he wasn’t currently negotiating with President Biden.
Manchin’s actions seem to be leaving Democrats in two minds. Some Senators –– including Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) –– still believe Manchin could change his mind on BBB.
But, others believe it’s time to move on from the Build Back Better Act. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer wants to move on, focusing his efforts on changing the filibuster by Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a move that would make it easier for Dems to pass bills without Republican support.
