House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) believes that Democratsâ roughly $2 trillion Build Back Better Act will pass, despite it currently lacking Sen. Joe Manchinâs (D-W. Va.) support.
During an event in San Fransisco, California, on Monday, Pelosi said, âWell, we never give upâŚThis will happen, it must happen, and we will do it as soon as we can. There are conversations that are ongoing, but we cannot walk away from this commitment.â
âI have confidence that Sen. Manchin cares about our country and that at some point very soon, we can take up the legislation. I am not deterred at all,â she added.
During an appearance on âFox News Sunday,â Manchin 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.
