Senator Joe Manchin, DW.Va., has called on the Democrats to halt efforts on a $ 3.5 trillion budget. J. Scott Applewhite / AP Hide caption
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J. Scott Applewhite / AP
Senator Joe Manchin, DW.Va., has called on the Democrats to halt efforts on a $ 3.5 trillion budget.
J. Scott Applewhite / AP
Senator Joe Manchin has called on Democrats to “take a strategic break” to advance the historic $ 3.5 trillion budget in what is at risk one of President Biden’s most ambitious efforts to stabilize the US economy and strengthen the middle class brings.
In a statement published Thursday in the Wall Street Journal, Manchin criticized his party for being short-sighted and hypocritical in its pursuit of the multi-trillion-dollar budget that the Democrats see as critical to tackling climate change, childcare affordability and the view fair living.
“The nation faces an unprecedented set of challenges and will inevitably face more crises in the future,” wrote Manchin. “Still, some in Congress have the strange belief that there is an infinite amount of money to deal with any crisis, current or future, and that spending trillions upon trillions will have no negative consequences for the future. I disagree.”
Manchin wrote that given the challenges posed by the country’s historically high inflation rate as well as the unpredictability of the pandemic – particularly in relation to the rapidly emerging variants of the virus – the Democrats should not “rush” to use the spending as a solution the current needs of the nation. Rather, legislators should take a longer-term look at how today’s fiscal policy could affect future generations.
The Democrats have said that the budget will be paid for with corporate and rich tax hikes, as well as other proposals.
As part of the reconciliation process, budget drafts can only pass the Senate with a simple majority instead of a 60-vote super majority. Republicans used the process in 2017 to pass President Trump’s tax bill and were criticized by Democrats for enforcing deeply partisan laws.
“Respectfully, it was wrong when the Republicans did it and it is wrong now,” wrote Manchin.
A manchin “no” would mean that the budget needs GOP support
If Manchin fails, as he previously signaled, the Democrats would have to get at least one Republican to vote for the budget – a huge task in the highly partisan chamber.
“If we are to invest in America, a goal I support, let us take the time to get it right and determine what is absolutely necessary,” wrote Manchin.
The West Virginia Democrat has often grappled with more progressive members of his party and has emerged as a critical swing voice. Democrats control the 50-50 Senate, with the Vice Presidency effectively acting as a tie-breaker.
Some Democrats in the House of Representatives rail against Manchin’s call
The Democrats in the House of Representatives, who also have a narrow, but not quite as precarious, majority, were quick to reject Manchin’s proposal.
In a tweet, New York MP Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez referred to the deadly Hurricane Ida that washed ashore in Louisiana before unleashing fatal strikes over the northeast and Manchin’s coal interests.
Manchin has weekly meetings with Exxon and is one of many senators who give lobbyists their pen to write so-called “non-partisan” fossil fuel bills.
It kills people. Our people. At least 12 last night. Sick of this “non-partisan” corruption, which poses as clear-sighted moderation. https://t.co/KW8w7HUhvT
– Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) September 2, 2021
New York’s Jamaal Bowman also pointed to the devastation of Hurricane Ida and the evidence that climate change is fueling more and more deadly natural disasters.
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