Manchin on his veto power over Biden agenda: 'It's not a good place to be'

[demmiblue]

(CNN)He's undecided on the nominee to head Health and Human Services. He's not sure if he'll back the No. 3 for the Justice Department, or the undersecretary of policy at the Pentagon.

He says maintaining the 60 vote-requirement to overcome a filibuster is a "red line" for him. And he's made clear he'll block advancing an infrastructure package on a party-line vote if Democrats don't work with Republicans.

In a 50-50 Senate, with most members voting the party-line, Sen. Joe Manchin stands mostly alone: effectively holding veto power over many of President Joe Biden's nominees and key elements of his agenda.

"It's a shame," Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, told CNN when asked about his newfound veto power. "There are 49 other Democrats. Please come forward."

Manchin added: "It's not good. It's not a good place to be."

But he offered this warning to his party as it tries to move legislation along straight party lines: "I'm going to make sure they don't."

https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/10/politics/joe-manchin-biden-agenda/index.html

[msongs]

1. then don't be there. sheeesh it's his own fault nt

[Under The Radar]

2. Manchin loves the attention and the power

It crosses me as him being self serving and power hungry by standing against a $15 minimum wage for the nation when his home state already has a $15 minimum wage. If he was a man of principle he would have side stepped that issue.

[Mr.Bill]

4. Minimum wage in West Virginia is 8.75.

6.13 for tipped servers.

[SharonClark]

3. "Please come forward".

What is that suppose to mean? Vote against the Democratic agenda just to make a point?

Manchin has the opportunity to go big and make a positive difference for his constituents and the country. It could be his legacy. Instead, he’s revealed as an unprincipled obstructionist. We all deserve better.

[lame54]

7. He is just waiting for...

The other blind 49 to realize he is the only one that is right

[Blue Owl]

5. Let's all walk on eggshells and gush over what a fine Democrat Manchin is

[Raven123]

6. Nothing is stopping Manchin from introducing bipartisan legislation.

Until he shows us how to do it, I remain skeptical that it can be done in this environment. I would like to be proven wrong.

[Celerity]

8. 10 usd per hour minimum wage increase (over 3 years as a 'compromise') inbound

introducing bipartisan legislation

10 usd, by the time it fully kicks in, will be worth less than 7.25 usd was in 2009

but do not worry, it will be raised again in another 12 years




and before you think I am being facetious, I have seen this exact thing already floated HERE as a more than adequate deal