Senator Joe Manchin Refuses to Support Biden’s Build Back Better Bill: ‘This Is a No’
On Sunday, West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin (D) said he will not vote in favor of President Joe Biden’s $2 trillion “Build Back Better” bill.
As reported by Fox News, the remarks came during an interview with Bret Baier on “Fox News Sunday.”
“I cannot vote to continue with this piece of legislation. I just can’t. I’ve tried everything humanly possible. I can’t get there,” Manchin said. “This is a no.”
Manchin, who has previously expressed opposition to Build Back Better, said that lawmakers should focus more on inflation instead of government spending because the social programs in the bill were too expensive.
“There’s a lot of good, but that bill is a mammoth piece of legislation,” Manchin added.
Members of the Democratic Party criticized Manchin for his continued refusal to back the President’s domestic policy plan.
In an interview with CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said that the Senate must hold a vote on the bill to compel Manchin “to explain to the people of West Virginia why he doesn’t have the guts to stand up to powerful special interests.”
“If he doesn’t have the courage to do the right thing for the working families of West Virginia and America, let him vote no in front of the whole world.” Sen. Bernie Sanders reacts to Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin saying “no” to Biden’s Build Back Better Act. #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/oEQaD19tAd
— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) December 19, 2021
“He’s continued to move the goal post. He has never negotiated in good faith, and he is obstructing the President’s agenda,” Democratic Rep. Ayanna Presley also said o Manchin while speaking to CNN’s “State of The Union.”
“He’s continued to move the goal post. He has never negotiated in good faith and he is obstructing the President’s agenda.” – Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley on Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin saying he won’t vote for the Build Back Better Act. https://t.co/eMGDIhZLL0 #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/xximGZSIxm
— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) December 19, 2021
According to USA Today, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki also issued a statement about Manchin, noting that no agreement has been reached during negotiations between him and the White House.
“Senator Manchin promised to continue conversations in the days ahead, and to work with us to reach that common ground. If his comments on FOX and written statement indicate an end to that effort, they represent a sudden and inexplicable reversal in his position and a breach of his commitments to the President and the Senator’s colleagues in the House and Senate,” Psaki said in a statement.
She noted that Manchin and Biden had at least some mutual ground last week since the Senator’s plan for the Build Back Better “was the same size and scope as the president’s framework, and covered many of the same priorities.”
She added that the White House will continue to talk with Manchin in an effort to change his mind on the bill.
“Just as Senator Manchin reversed his position on Build Back Better this morning, we will continue to press him to see if he will reverse his position yet again, to honor his prior commitments and be true to his word,” Psaki said.
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Pete Marovich/Stringer
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer. He is also the co-hosts of the For Your Soul podcast, which seeks to equip the church with biblical truth and sound doctrine. Visit his blog Blessed Are The Forgiven.
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