Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) is signaling that he is not interested in reviving discussions about Democratsâ nearly $2 trillion Build Back Better Act.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Manchin said, âIâm really not going to talk about Build Back Better anymore because I think Iâve been very clear on that: There no negotiations going on at this time, OK.â
Manchin added that he feels âas strongly todayâ as he did when he announced that he would not vote for the spending package last month.
During an interview on âFox News Sundayâ in December, Manchin dashed Democratsâ hopes of passing the package as he said, âI cannot vote to continue with this piece of legislation, I just canât. I tried everything humanly possible, I canât get there.â
âThis is a no, on this legislation,â he added.
And in a separate statement, he said, âI have always said, âIf I canât go back home and explain it, I canât vote for it.â Despite my best efforts, I cannot explain the sweeping Build Back Better Act in West Virginia and I cannot vote to move forward on this mammoth piece of legislation.â
The West Virginia senator once again reiterated his concerns that the bill would add to the deficit and that Democrats are trying to âcamouflage the real cost of the intent behind this bill.â
âI cannot take that risk with a staggering debt of more than $29 trillion and inflation taxes that are real and harmful to every hard-working American at the gasoline pumps, grocery stores, and utility bills with no end in sight,â he added.
Democrats were hoping to use a process known as budget reconciliation to pass the bill, which would have required all 50 Democrats to vote for it with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote.â
Without Manchinâs vote, the bill would fail to pass the chamber.
However, Axios reported on Sunday that the West Virginia senator is âopen to reengaging on the climate and child care provisionsâ in the Build Back Better bill.
