Manchin Suggests ‘Zero’ for Top Line Number

“Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) squabbled behind closed doors Wednesday, with Manchin using a raised-fist goose egg to tell his colleague he can live without any of President Biden’s social spending plan,” Axios reports.

“The disagreement, recounted by two senators in the room, underscores how far apart two key members remain as the Democratic Party tries to meet its deadline for reaching an agreement on a budget reconciliation framework by Friday.”

“Manchin’s comfort level with zero as a final number — and his willingness to threaten Sanders with it publicly at Wednesday’s lunch for Senate committee chairs — reveals a stark reality for Democratic negotiators: Manchin can control the final dollar amount.”