It appears that Democratic Senator Joe Manchin is about ready to launch his self-propelled, under water missile at Biden’s massive $1.75 trillion dollar “Build Back Better” Boondoggle, hopefully sinking it before the end of the year, or early next year.
Even with the monstrous spending bill pared down from its original proposal, the moderate lawmaker still can’t support the wasteful package. This is mainly due to the White House looking to end fossil fuels, in favor of the radical lefts “Green New Deal” climate change priorities, which would negatively impact Manchin’s coal-producing home state of West Virginia.
While a majority of Democrats have grown frustrated with Manchin’s stonewalling, there are some within the party looking over their shoulder towards 2022. Those within the toss up states are quietly hoping that Manchin will stay the course, denying the 50 votes needed to pass the bill via reconciliation.
According to a recent article appearing in Politico, the Biden administration has grown weary with the 74-year old moderate as talks between the administration and the Senator have reached an impasse. As reported in the latest CBO score, they estimate the bill would increase the deficit by a staggering $367 billion dollars within the next decade.
A source close to the White House candidly admitted on Wednesday that talks “have been going very poorly. They are far apart.”
“Though Manchin and Biden developed a warm rapport this year and collaborated on several prominent pieces of legislation, the plodding pace of the talks between the two Joe’s threatens is straining their friendly relationship,” Politico reported.
“Frustration among White House aides with Manchin is high and growing,” it said. “And while Biden likes Manchin personally, he too has grown tired of the elongated talks and will soon push him to make a decision and support the legislation, according to two White House sources.”
According to Politico, Manchin has “raised fundamental concerns on how the bill is structured, questioning its 10-year financing when lawmakers are authorizing programs on shorter time spans.”
“Sen. Manchin is not telling President Biden what to include or not include. He has always been supportive” of the $300-a-month child tax credit included in the bill, a source close to Manchin told Politico. “He has also made it clear the cost should not be greater than $1.75 trillion.”
Manchin, whether he likes it or not, is the most powerful Senator in Congress at this moment. He currently holds the decisive vote within a 50-50 Senate split, and with no Republicans supporting this boondoggle of a bill that’s guaranteed to raise taxes by approximately 30% for the majority of middle-class wage earners in 2022, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center.
“Joe Biden, to his credit, has never given up. He always tries to put himself in the shoes of other people, particularly with whom he’s negotiating. He’s always trying to meet the other person halfway, he’s sincere,” said Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), who’s been working to address some of Manchin’s concerns on climate-related provisions. “We tried to narrow what the president has to focus on in his conversations with the senator from West Virginia.”
Biden once again called Manchin on Monday, attempting to convince the senator to get onboard, followed by another call on Tuesday. When asked how often he’s talking to Biden, Manchin said, “I’m just waiting. I’m not in charge.” Oh Joe, you are!
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