West Virginia Democrat Senator Joe Manchin has threatened to meddle with Joe Biden's $1.2 trillion Build Back Better spending plan and vote to ax the private sector vaccine mandate.
Manchin, speaking to the Wall Street Journal, announced that he hasn't made a choice whether or not he'll vote for the proposed spending bill. He stated that he has concerns that overflowing the markets with more money could further deepen inflation, which hit a 31 year high of 6.2 percent in October.
"We've got to make sure we get this right," Manchin declared. "We can't afford to continue to flood the market as we've done."
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And, Manchin, one of two centrist Democrat senators who have drawn the anger of the party's Progressive wing, has indicated he will side with the GOP to strike down an intended vaccine mandate forcing private-sector workers to punish unvaccinated staff.
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Manchin announced: "I basically am 1,000% in favor of the federal government having a mandate [for employees]…private businesses, no."
"I don't think the government has to make every decision for the private sector, you know. You've been doing quite well without us." If, as generally expected, the Republicans and their Democrat followers gain a simple Senate majority, they'll be able to destroy the proposals.
Discussing his opposition to Build Back Better, Manchin mentioned an op-ed he wrote in September claiming that Democrats should pause on attempting to push the bill over inflation concerns.
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"I was concerned then, and I said let's take a strategic pause," Manchin announced, adding that he still feels "strongly about that."
Manchin has previously announced he's opposed to including paid leave policies in the bill, as well as provisions that would urge companies to transition to clean energy, which has since been dropped.
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Manchin was further critical of both parties for trying to use budget reconciliation to attempt and pass governing priorities.
"It was never intended to be used for major policy changes," he stated.
He is one of two moderate Democrat senators - the other being Arizona lawmaker Krysten Sinema - who've resisted Biden's lavish spending plans.
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The plan, enacted by the House of Representatives last month, covers $400 billion on child and family support, $555 billion on climate change, and $166 billion on housing aid.
The duo have infuriated the Progressive wing of their party, though drawn endorsement from centrist Democrats and Republicans concerned by Biden's spending bonanza.
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Other Democrats have claimed that they have to use reconciliation, or consider getting rid of the filibuster because most of their agenda is only backed by the 50 members of their caucus.
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With a 50-50 split in the Senate, Democrats must have every member vote so that Vice President Kamala Harris can cast a tie-breaking vote.
Biden has pledged to make reversing the nation's growing inflation a "top priority," after the Consumer Price Index revealed inflation is at its highest level in 31 years.
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