So much for all the efforts to negotiate with Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema and meet in the middle over the Build Back Better legislation, and the price tag attached. Manchin has now officially announced he won’t support the legislation, declaring, “I can’t get there.”
[Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images[
According to Politico, if the bill even makes it to a vote now, it won’t be until the Senate returns in January, but without the support of all 50 Democrats in the Senate, there’s no real chance for the bill to make it through a vote. Manchin has been holding out with a list of reasons centering on the costs inherent in the bill, but has previously indicated he’d be willing to negotiate and come to an agreement.
Sunday morning, however, he announced that it’s not happening.
“I cannot vote to continue with this piece of legislation.” — Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) says President Biden’s Build Back Better plan “is a no.”
Manchin declares that he’s “done everything humanly possible” to come to terms with the legislation, and “just can’t get there.”
Still, some legislators are interested in holding a vote, even if the bill has no chance of succeeding. Appearing on CNN, Bernie Sanders recommended holding a vote, and making Manchin account for his position.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) responds to Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) coming out against President Biden's Build Back Better plan:
He says Manchin is going to have to go home to West Virginia and explain to his constituents why he won’t support standing up to pharmaceutical companies to lower drug prices, expanding home health care to keep the elderly and disabled from being forced into nursing homes, and expanding Medicaid and Medicare to cover vision and dental care, among other things.
Steph Bazzle reports on social issues and religion for Hill Reporter. She focuses on stories that speak to everyone's right to practice what they believe in and receive the support of their communities and government officials. You can reach her at Steph@HillReporter.com
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