Manchin says he’s open to negotiating a new version of Biden’s “Build Back Better” agenda — narrowed down to addressing climate change, prescription drugs and reducing the national debt.
- Democratic Senator Joe Manchin said he is open to a modified “Build Back Better” program.
- He canceled the social services bill in early February due to concerns about high costs.
- Said he was open to talks about climate change, prescription drugs, debt
- He also told senators and cabinet members that he was looking for a compromise.
Democratic Senator Joe Manchin said he was ready to discuss a new version of Biden’s “Rebuild Better” program.
Manchin, 74, said he would support a revised agenda that has been narrowed down to address climate change, prescription drugs, an updated tax code and a reduction in the national debt, Axios reported.
He made the comments during a private dinner with a group of energy executives and climate activists on Monday.
Manchin also told senators and cabinet members that he is seeking a compromise, but that a vote on the agenda must be held before August, when the midterm elections are due, according to the Washington Post.
In early February, West Virginia’s representative repealed an estimated $2 trillion welfare bill, saying he would not support it because it was too expensive.
With Democrats holding only 50 of the 100 seats in the Senate – Vice President Kamala Harris’s vote is critical – Manchin’s support is paramount in getting the bill passed.
Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, 74, said he would support a revised agenda that has been narrowed to address climate change, prescription drugs, an updated tax code and a reduction in the national debt.
West Virginia Representative Manchin repealed President Joe Biden’s nearly $2 trillion “Build Better” social services bill in early February, saying he would not support it due to cost.
“Senator Manchin is always ready to engage in discussions about how best to move our country forward,” said Sam Runyon, the senator’s communications director.
“He remains seriously concerned about the financial situation of our country and believes that fighting inflation by restoring equity in our tax system and paying off our public debt should be our top priority.
“He made it clear that we can protect energy independence and respond to climate change at the same time. We must support energy independence by promoting all of the above energy policies in order to continue producing cleaner energy than anywhere else in the world.
“In addition, he continues to believe that we can and should lower the cost of prescription drugs for working Americans to ensure that no family has to choose between life-saving drugs and food on the table.”
Axios said Manchin had presented changes that include roughly $500 billion in climate change and $1 trillion in new revenue during initial negotiations.
But he did not announce any support for universal preschool or any of the other care economy proposals included in Biden’s original law.
He pushed for a reduction in the national debt and said at least half of the revenue should come from new corporate taxes or from the perceived savings from allowing Medicare to negotiate the price of prescription drugs.
Axios said Manchin introduced changes to the Build Back Better bill that include roughly $500 billion in climate change and $1 trillion in new revenue during initial negotiations (pictured, the costumed BBB bill appeared on Capitol Hill on Feb. 1).
In December, Manchin said in an interview with Fox News that he would not support the bill, jeopardizing the bill’s chances of getting through the Senate.
But at the time, lobbyists said they thought it was “accessible.” However, Manchin said in early February that he did not think the bill could be revived on Capitol Hill.
When asked about the law, he told reporters, “Which Build Back Better bill?” There’s nothing here. I do not understand what you’re saying.
And when asked if there had been any negotiations on the bill since December, Manchin replied, “No, no, no, no, he’s dead.”
“No, if we are talking about a whole big package, it doesn’t exist,” he later explained during another conversation with reporters.