Manchin Signals Bad News for Democrats’ Hopes of Reviving Build Back Better

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) is signaling that he is not interested in reviving discussions about Democrats’ nearly $2 trillion Build Back Better Act.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Manchin said, “I’m really not going to talk about Build Back Better anymore because I think I’ve been very clear on that: There no negotiations going on at this time, OK.”

Manchin added that he feels “as strongly today” as he did when he announced that he would not vote for the spending package last month.

During an interview on “Fox News Sunday” in December, Manchin dashed Democrats’ hopes of passing the package as he said, “I cannot vote to continue with this piece of legislation, I just can’t. I tried everything humanly possible, I can’t get there.”

“This is a no, on this legislation,” he added.

And in a separate statement, he said, “I have always said, ‘If I can’t go back home and explain it, I can’t vote for it.’ 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.”

The West Virginia senator once again reiterated his concerns that the bill would add to the deficit and that Democrats are trying to “camouflage the real cost of the intent behind this bill.”