WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, a moderate Democrat who is key to President Joe Biden’s hopes of passing a $1.75 trillion domestic investment bill, said yesterday he would not support the package, drawing a sharp rebuke from the White House.
Manchin appeared to deal a fatal blow to Biden’s signature domestic policy bill, which is known as Build Back Better and aims to expand the social safety net and tackle climate change.
“I cannot vote to continue with this piece of legislation,” Manchin said during an interview with the “Fox News Sunday” program, citing concerns about inflation. “I just can’t. I have tried everything humanly possible.”
He then released a statement accusing his party of pushing for an increase in the debt load that would “drastically hinder” the United States’ ability to respond to the coronavirus pandemic and geopolitical threats.
“My Democratic colleagues in Washington are determined to dramatically reshape our society in a way that leaves our country even more vulnerable to the threats we face,” Manchin said in a statement.
The White House responded angrily, accusing him of breaking his promise to find common ground and get the bill passed.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Manchin’s comments “represent a sudden and inexplicable reversal in his position.” Biden’s administration would find a way to move forward with the legislation in 2022, she said.
Many Democrats feel passage of the bill is essential to the party’s chances of maintaining control of Congress in next year’s elections.
The White House had hoped to keep negotiations cordial and private to avoid alienating Manchin, who represents West Virginia, a state that Biden lost to former President Donald Trump by almost 40 percentage points in the 2020 election.
But many top Biden allies believe Manchin is damaging the Democratic president’s political future, and Psaki’s public rebuke of the senator suggested a new phase in Biden’s push for legislation he regards as essential to his legacy.
Manchin’s comments also drew outrage from liberal Democrats.
Senator Bernie Sanders, who helped shape the bill, called for a vote to be held on the package of measures anyway.
The bill would raise taxes on the wealthy and corporations to pay for a host of programs to thwart climate change, boost healthcare subsidies and provide free childcare.