Manchin Says Inflation, Omicron Should Give Congress 'Cause to Pause' on Biden Social Bill

[left-of-center2012]

Source: Newsweek

Senator Joe Manchin is raising concerns about forging ahead with President Joe Biden's Build Back Better bill amid inflation and a new strain of the coronavirus.

Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill, the West Virginia Democrat said there is still much that is unknown about the Omicron variant. Scientists fear the strain is potentially more transmissible than other variants, but it's unclear if it causes more severe illness and whether vaccines are effective in combating it. No cases have been reported yet in the United States, but the variant has prompted a new wave of global travel restrictions.

"No one knows what effect it's going to have, and you have inflation on top," Manchin said. "So all these things give you cause to pause." Manchin, a critical vote for Democrats as they seek to pass the sweeping social safety net and climate change package via the Senate's reconciliation process, has previously called for a strategic pause on additional spending.

The moderate senator has also repeatedly said he will not support a final package that negatively affects the national debt or that "risks hurting American families suffering from historic inflation."

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/manchin-says-inflation-omicron-should-give-congress-cause-pause-biden-social-bill-1654450

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The House-passed version of the package includes money for universal prekindergarten, child care subsidies, an extension of the child tax credit, expanding Medicare to cover hearing services and four weeks of paid family leave.

Manchin reiterated his opposition to paid family leave's inclusion in the package, arguing it should be done as a stand-alone piece of legislation that could garner bipartisan support.

[bottomofthehill]

1. He is still looking for the excuse

[FarPoint]

3. He is not deserving of his political position....

He is just not worthy...

[onecaliberal]

2. Fuck him! Idgaf what he thinks about anything.

He’s a puppet. Can we stop acting like it’s anything else?

[BlueTsunami2018]

4. It sickens me how much I despise this guy.

I shouldn’t have to hate anyone this much. I shouldn’t still have the knot in my stomach that started five years ago. I’m so sick and tired of being sick and tired.

I want to be happy someday.

[GB_RN]

5. I Have No Words...

Other than follow the money he's made in campaign donations the last quarter...🤦‍♂️


From Electoral Vote, with a link to a piece from The Guardian inside it:

A recent piece from David Smith, who is the lead Washington correspondent for The Guardian, suggests an explanation for the senators' behavior: It's all about the Benjamins. Specifically, the senators are raking in the bucks for their campaign war chests, a development largely fueled by the generous support of right-wing donors. Through Q3 of this year, Manchin had collected $3.3 million in donations, as compared to $230,000 over the same timeframe last year. Sinema's haul as of Q3 2021 is $2.6 million, which is a far sight better than the $1 million she brought in during the first three quarters of 2020.

[happy feet]

40. Yup - McConnell ups pressure on Manchin, Sinema: They could sink spending plan

From "The Hill" November 10, 2021

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/580960-mcconnell-ups-pressure-on-manchin-sinema-they-could-kill-biden-spending-plan

"Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) is upping pressure on Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) to scuttle President Biden's social and climate spending bill.

McConnell, during an interview with Kentucky radio station WKYX, argued that Democrats should have "dropped the whole thing," referencing the bill, after last week's elections in Virginia and New Jersey.

"If the Democrats in the Senate, all 50 of them, fall in line, they can pass it. If any one of them isn't there in a 50-50 Senate, it will be defeated," McConnell said.

"The two Senate Democrats who are resisting—Joe Manchin from West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema from Arizona—we'll see how strong they are. They could kill the whole thing, either one of them," McConnell added."

[Initech]

6. At this point he's moved the goal posts to the next zip code.

[bluestarone]

7. Seems like he just gotta get his face on tv.

I just wish that he would keep his fucking thoughts to HIMSELF until he's talking to his friends (DEMOCRATS in congress) NO he's gotta go play with OUR enemies and play big shot! GOD DAM i'm just tired of his BULLSHIT

[jalan48]

8. How about that budget busting Defense bill or that enormous tax break for the rich Joe?

[IronLionZion]

9. Tell him social safety net is different from social distance

Child care and paid family leave don't spread COVID as much as unvaccinated conservatives.

[Xipe Totec]

10. Manchin this, Manchin that... Chinga tu Manchin! nt

[LiberalFighter]

11. Need to gain a few extra seats in the Senate in 2022.

[H2Oart]

37. Total

That is a total agreement here.

[DonCoquixote]

12. more trickery

if Trump was back,Joe would have no problem spending this on all defense,any more than he did that trillion-dollar tax break the wealthy/his owners,got

[Gore1FL]

13. Inflation, Omicron Should Give Congress 'Cause to Pass' Biden Social Bill.

I can make similar statements, too!

[Sapient Donkey]

22. Exact same thought I had.

I read what he said and he didn't really make a case for why his statement is more correct than what you said.

I guess that's politics, though. People just saying some quick blurbs, but not even attempting to justify or explain why their assertions should be accepted.

[BradAllison]

14. Fucking dipshit n/m

[Joinfortmill]

15. So sick of this dude.

[karin_sj]

16. Too bad they can't recall senators

And replace them with someone that represents the values of the people who voted them in.

[Orrex]

17. If he weren't a Democrat, I'd say that he needs to go fuck himself indefinitely

Since he's a Democrat, and in accordance with the TOS, I definitely won't say that he needs to go fuck himself indefinitely.

[Evolve Dammit]

18. GOP fawns over him. He is one of them. Take your Maserati into the sunset Joe. n/t

[Bayard]

19. Next excuse--Santa Clause is Coming!

He is NEVER going to let this bill pass.

[Lunabell]

20. Is there anything the Democrats put forth he is actually for?

Anything?

[left-of-center2012]

21. My mother said if you can't say anything good about someone say nothing at all

[Orrex]

24. Your mother will be pleased to hear that I am happy to say it for you.

[Jon King]

23. Progressives were correct to demand the bills be linked.

As predicted, he was never going to vote for much of anything in regards to the 2nd bill. Just as the progressive caucus knew when they kept saying they did not trust that the 2nd bill would pass if they gave up their leverage.

[myohmy2]

26. +1...

...we saw that one coming, predicable as usual...

...that football can be tricky...

...no meaningful Social Climate BBB bill, kiss 2022 goodbye...

...and when we take it in the ass in 2022, who do you think they'll blame?

...exhausting...

[FBaggins]

38. Only if you think the infrastructure bill should not have been passed

They obviously weren't going to succeed in using it to pressure him to vote for something that he opposed. So their demands were counterproductive (only hurting their position).

As predicted, he was never going to vote for much of anything in regards to the 2nd bill.

A self-fulfilling "prediction" - but they're still the ones causing the problem. They're still trying to pressure him to suppose something that he has constantly said that he won't vote for. If they put together the ~$1.5T package that he said back in July that he would support, there's no evidence that he wouldn't vote for it.

[GPV]

25. So tired of him

[dhol82]

27. He's being paid off by somebody

Gotta be. Nobody is that stupid for no reason.

[regnaD kciN]

29. Who said he's stupid...?

He wanted the infrastructure bill -- he got it.

He wanted no part of BBB -- he got it.

When you get everything you want and nothing of what you don't want, that's not "stupid." The only people who should be accused of stupidity were those who actually believed his "private assurances" and trusted that, having given his word privately, he wouldn't show the bad faith to back out of it once he got what he wanted.

[dhol82]

30. Then he's just a major prick.

How can anybody trust him after this? Now, that, would be stupid.

[regnaD kciN]

28. He got what he wanted -- the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill...

He got Nancy Pelosi to pledge that, if the House progressives went along with splitting them, he would approve BBB (note Pelosi's public expressions of "confidence" -- she wouldn't have gone out on a limb like that if she hadn't been given specific assurances). Then, once the things he wanted were signed into law, suddenly "BuT iNfLaTiOn AnD oMiCrOn!!!" give him the grounds he needs to backtrack on his promises.

UPSHOT: He gets everything he wants, House progressives who went along with Pelosi's assurances get bupkis, and pissed-off progressive voters blame Biden and stay home in droves next November. Mission accomplished!

[myohmy2]

31. snookered...

...IIRC, didn't Nancy have pukes waiting in the wing to fill the gap if Progressives had walked?

...I'll admit we needed a win but that win came at a very high price for Progressives...

...tiring...dangle a carrot, pull it away, hold your nose, vote...

...this is what happens when money rules the roost...if you got it, you get your way...if you don't, you won't...

...hope something good comes of it...

...

[BlueIdaho]

32. He's a fucking dark cloud

On a sunny day. Go ahead ManChin - be the one man wrecking crew to destroy America’s recovery. Just watch both ways when you cross the street.

[Brainfodder]

33. Mitch has already paused enough for 20 lifetimes?

[Efilroft Sul]

34. If Manchin weren't originally a coal baron, I would've thought he was a colorectal surgeon.

Because he keeps finding ways to pull shit out of his ass and thwart meaningful progress.

[Jakes Progress]

35. Manchin opens his mouth and mcconnell's words come out.

This nasty man has no morals. He is a shill for republican hate.

[padah513]

36. And goalpost moved yet again

[PortTack]

39. Tomorrow it will be the weather, the next day it will be another flimsy excuse

[The Wizard]

41. Manchin will use any headline

to obstruct progress. It's called loose associations and it's covered by Obamacare. Is McConnell paying for Manchin's obstruction?

[oasis]

42. Joe M's become a grandmaster in cranking out "full of shit" statements.