Manchin Denies Killing Climate Provisions of Spending Bill

In a radio interview, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) denied last night’s reports that he killed the climate and tax portions of the Democratic spending package.

Said Manchin: “I said, ‘Chuck, can we just wait until the inflation figures come out in July? Until basically the Fed rate — the Reserve, are they going to raise interest? How much more, and how much damage is that going to be? And then make a decision what we can do and how much we can do?’ He took that as a ‘no,’ I guess, and came out with this big thing last night.”

He added: “And I don’t know why they did that. I guess to try to put pressure on me, but they’ve been doing that for over a year now. It doesn’t make any sense at all. As far as I’m concerned, I want climate, I want an energy policy.”

New York Times: “Privately, Senate Democratic staff members seethed and sobbed on Thursday night, after more than a year of working nights and weekends to scale back, water down, trim and tailor the climate legislation to Mr. Manchin’s exact specifications, only to have it rejected inches from the finish line.”

Playbook: “Now, the question becomes: Is the damage already done — and have Democrats run out of patience and grace for Manchin?”