Joe Manchin Torpedoes Spending Bill Again

“Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) informed Democratic leaders on Thursday he would not support an economic package that contains new spending on climate change or includes new tax increases to pay for the legislation,” the Washington Post reports.

“The major shift in negotiations threatens to upend the delicate process to adopt sweeping legislation. Manchin already scuttled the original $2 trillion Build Back Better Act that House Democrats and President Biden supported.”

“But Manchin did say he was open to revising federal laws that might lower prescription drugs costs for seniors… And the West Virginia moderate expressed support with Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), the party’s chief negotiator, for extended subsidies that help keep health insurance costs down for millions of Americans for the next two years.”