American Hero: Joe Manchin Throws Another Wrench In Biden & Progressives Green Agenda

By Mark Gruber | Saturday, 16 July 2022 10:45 PM
6
Views 5.9K
American Hero: Joe Manchin Throws Another Wrench In Biden & Progressives Green Agenda

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and his staff explained to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D, N.Y., unequivocally Thursday that he is willing just to back a reconciliation bill in August that includes a provision to lower prescription drug prices and a two-year extension of subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, according to a Democrat briefed on the conversations.

Manchin was explicit that he wouldn't back a bill before the midterms with any provisions on energy and climate or closing tax loopholes used by the wealthy and biggest corporations, despite his backing for those specific things throughout months of negotiations.

Democrats had wished to pass a sweeping package to tout throughout the midterms.

 WATCH: JOHN LEGEND CALLS TRUMP A RACISTbell_image

Schumer and Manchin have been negotiating the package for months, and the West Virginia moderate had previously announced he would be amenable to climate language and tax raises on higher earners in a bill about half the size of the $2 trillion social and environmental bill Manchin single-handedly eliminated last December.

 RUSSIAN COURT DENIES EVAN GERSHOVICH'S APPEAL, WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE WSJ REPORTER?bell_image

"Political headlines are of no value to the millions of Americans struggling to afford groceries and gas as inflation soars to 9.1%," Manchin spokesperson Sam Runyon announced in a statement to Fox

 WATCH FETTERMAN REACTING TO PROTESTS WAVESbell_image

News Digital Thursday. "Senator Manchin believes it’s time for leaders to put political agendas aside, reevaluate and adjust to the economic realities the country faces to avoid taking steps that add fuel to the inflation fire."

 SQUATTERS BEWARE AS GEORGIA GOVERNOR SIGNS TOUGH NEW LAWbell_image

Manchin's demands mean Democrats would probably be able just to produce a far smaller bill that erases the wishes of many in the party to use it to fund clean energy incentives that could start to help curb global warming.

Previously, Democrats had removed different provisions like paid family leave amid negotiations with Manchin.

 EXECUTION-STYLE AMBUSH: LOS ANGELES DEPUTY ATTACKED BY NOTORIOUS GANG MEMBERbell_image

His vote is imperative for Democrats to use the budget reconciliation process for the party-line bill, a process that only requires a majority vote rather than the 60-vote filibuster threshold.

Democrats have a slim 50-50 majority in the Senate (including 2 Independents who caucus with Democrats) and Vice President Kamala Harris as a tiebreaker.

X