Scoop: Biden and Manchin deadlocked on length of BBB programs

[brooklynite]

Source: Axios

President Biden and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) are locked in a disagreement over how long programs in the Build Back Better agenda should be funded, people familiar with the matter tell Axios.

Why it matters: The impasse all but guarantees the Senate will delay a vote on the $1.75 trillion spending package until next year. It's also an indication Biden is willing to hold out for a bigger deal, as opposed to a faster one.

The president told the senator during a phone call Monday he didn’t want to budge from his plan to fund some of his programs for one year, and others for 10 years.

Manchin was equally clear: Before negotiating which individual programs should survive, he wants to agree to a common denominator for their funding term.

Read more: https://www.axios.com/biden-manchin-bbb-program-length-8de8df91-fda9-47df-b97f-cc3b12884d4c.html

[tirebiter]

1. How is that a scoop?

[brooklynite]

2. Have you read about yesterday's call previously?

[FBaggins]

9. Scoop isn't the word that I would challenge in that title

“Deadlock” is the one that doesn’t seem to fit. Particularly if you believe (as many here do) that Manchin doesn’t want BBB to become law.

[Midnight Writer]

3. Screw it. Polish that thing and put it up for a vote. Lay it all on Manchin's shoulders.

Turn that pressure around so it is on him.

I don't think he will kill the whole thing over something like timing or funding terms. That is not something his voters could understand.

[FBaggins]

10. His voters already oppose BBB

They don’t need to understand the nuances of budget scoring.

But those “timing and funding terms” add up to trillions of dollars and the existence of huge portions of the legislation. They are not esoteric minutia.

[dsc]

4. The Senate is so f ing worthless

They get paid just south of 200k a year and literally can't get one f ing bill passed despite having nearly a year in which to do so. They take dozens and dozens of days off but nope we can't have even one day for parental leave.

[quakerboy]

7. It aint the senate. Its two people. And republicans

[LenaBaby61]

13. THIS 👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻

[FBaggins]

14. "Two people and republicans" 52 senate votes

That's "the Senate"

[Magoo48]

11. That's the fucking truth. As a non-functional, disease ridden governmental organ,

It is become vestigial. Replace it with a population-representative, elected body limited to two, four year terms.

[Hoyt]

5. Hope they work it out. I do think the one year funding for Child Credit is

playing a little loose with the situation.

It won’t, and shouldn’t, end after one year.

[manicdem]

8. Should be extended

I don't know what the big deal on it is, it should be extended for the full term. If repubs take congress in 2022, then that spells the end of the credit in 2023 and beyond.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

6. I bet this is Manchin's first experience with having power.

He loves it, and will never let it go.

He's treated as the most important person in the Senate by everyone including President Biden.

The Repugs are praising him as the ultimate patriot who is saving America from the radical socialist Democrats. Their donors are showering him with tons and tons of money.

He can't get through a day without seeing himself on the news at least once, often walking down the Capitol halls with a gaggle of reporters hanging on his every word.

He knows that the moment the Bill Back Better bill passes his power disappears. The only thing preventing its passage is his iron grip on the filibuster.

He loves the power he has unexpectedly acquired, and will never let it go.

[Deminpenn]

16. Except he only has power because Dems allow it

That's the reason he'll never go over to McConnell's side. The first time he tried to hold up a bill McConnell wanted passed, the hammer would come down on him.

Biden needs to start playing hardball.

[karynnj]

17. How do you pass a landmark bill with 49 votes???

On BBB, we are already under reconciliation. That lowers the number from 60 to 50. I KNOW that we all want BBB - all of it- to pass. However, how do you get a bill passed with less than 50% of the entire Senate?

I assume what you are implicitly calling for is for Schumer and Biden to actually threaten the two Democrats not in agreement. What would you threaten them with - especially Manchin? Progressives have already called for Sinema primary challenges. Note that in the Trump years, there were things they failed to get 50 votes on - even though they had more than 50 Senators. The biggest was the long demanded repeal of ACA.

I suspect that in the quiet of the recess and Christmas/New year holidays, Schumer and Manchin will reach some agreement. The resulting bill will be pared down, but EVERYTHING in that bill is something we want --- and the House will pass it. Remember that the most centrist member of the party in power always gets the most attention when looking at passing laws. On the other hand, they are never the favorites of the base.

[Deminpenn]

18. Manchin has already been involved in negotiations over the

bill. Jayapal has repeatedly said that when she's interviewed by the media. As far as I'm concerned Manchin has given his word on BBB and now needs to be told to keep it.

[BradAllison]

20. Does anyone think he's endorse Tim Ryan?

Or Conor Lamb?


I fully expect West Virginia Joe to be bopping on stage with Doctor Oz and the usual suspects here going "Ohhhh well that's politics!!!"

[OneCrazyDiamond]

12. What programs are proposed for only a year?

[myohmy2]

15. hang in there, Prez...

...we're counting on you...

...think 2022...

[oasis]

19. Kick.