Sen. Joe Manchin, a critical vote in the narrowly divided Senate, dealt a stunning blow to President Biden’s Build Back Better $2 trillion social spending plan, saying he is a “no” vote on the package.
“I’ve always said this, Brett, if I can’t go home and explain to the people of West Virginia why I can’t vote for and I cannot vote to continue with this piece of legislation. I just can’t. I’ve tried everything humanly possible. I can’t get there,” Manchin told host Bret Baier on “Fox News Sunday.”
“You’re done?” Baier asked. “This is a no?”
”This is a no on this piece of legislation. I have tried everything I know to do,” Manchin responded.
The Biden administration negotiated with Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) for months to get them on board with the legislation.
But Manchin opposed many of the spending package’s initiatives, including the expansion of the federal child tax credit.
He also expressed his concerns over how the massive spending in Build Back Better would fuel the already skyrocketing inflation rate, which has hit 39-year highs, and affect his constituents in the Mountain State.
Manchin is a crucial vote in the 50-50 Senate, because Democrats are hoping to use reconciliation to pass Build Back Better, a tactic that would allow them to bypass the usual 60-vote threshold.
