Democrat Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia has reportedly revoked his $1.8 trillion counteroffer to the Biden Administration’s Build Back Better social spending package in what is likely the final blow to both President Biden and the Democrats’ hopes of passing the long-anticipated but contentious legislation.
Manchin, a moderate Democrat, was reported on Saturday by the Washington Post as withdrawing his former proposal. The Post cited three separate anonymous sources regarding the senator’s decision. The news comes mere days after Manchin informed reporters that there were no further negotiations relating to the bill.
On Tuesday of last week, Manchin said that he was unwilling to speak any further about Biden’s Build Back Better legislation “because I think I’ve been very clear on that.” He added that there were “no negotiations going on” related to the bill.
Manchin’s compromise draft included dramatic changes to the $1.75 trillion spending plan that House Representatives cleared back in November. The Congressional Budget Office warned that the bill, as Democrats had written it in the House, would add $367 billion to the national debt. Manchin repeatedly and consistently opposed the bill on the grounds that the nation’s deficit was in bad enough a state as is and was concerned about its possible implications for inflation.
Manchin’s compromise allowed for universal pre-K education and an increased tax on billionaires, however, it completely removed the expanded child tax credit, which progressives had demanded as part of the bill from the start.
Manchin’s decision to effectively veto the bill, even on his own terms, is the final nail in the coffin for BBB because with the 50-50 majority Senate split, every Democrat must be on board for the legislation to pass. Furthermore, it’s expected by both sides that the Republicans will regain control of the House and/or Senate following the elections of 2022.
The White House has not issued a statement on the most recent reports, but attacked Manchin last month when the Senator announced that his vote was still a ‘no’ for the bill as it was drafted then.
Author: Jason Evans
