You can only imagine just how angry the Biden White House is with Sens. Manchin and Sinema as they stand firm against the $3.5 trillion left-wing wish list currently being debated in Congress.
On Thursday, he West Virginia Democrat confirmed that he proposed a $1.5 trillion maximum spending number for the reconciliation package Democrats are trying to pass.
Manchin, perhaps the most consequential figure in D.C. politics right now, proposed a $1.5 trillion deal to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer over the summer. Manchin has been openly critical of the spending bill, advising members of his caucus earlier in September to “hit the pause button” and raising concerns over its price tag.
While it’s long been reported that Manchin’s top line falls far below the $3.5 trillion proposal, Thursday’s reporting revealed that the Democratic senator compiled a physical one-page document outlining his ideal cost as well as various conditions.
Manchin’s document suggested raising the corporate tax rate to 25% and raising the top tax rate on income to 39.6%. Manchin and Schumer signed the document, which noted that the former lawmaker “does not guarantee that he will vote for the final reconciliation legislation if it exceeds the conditions outlined in this agreement.”
Schumer wrote a note on the document vowing to “try to change Joe [Biden] on some of these,” according to reports.
The Senate Majority Leader in turn went against the signed document with Manchin to push the more radical, more expansive, and more destructive $3.5 trillion measure.
Manchin confirmed the number to reporters Thursday, and said Biden is aware of his $1.5 trillion top-line. This is the first time the senator shared the number publicly with the press.
WATCH:
Newsy Manchin: Told a group of us $1.5 trillion is his number.
Doesn't explicitly say he won't go higher. But made clear to Biden that was his ceiling. Biden told him he wants more.
Says this is going to take time
Says he's no liberal. pic.twitter.com/sEeOkwE68F— Manu Raju (@mkraju) September 30, 2021
Manchin noted that the president wanted “a lot more than” that.
The White House mouthpiece Jen Psaki has struggled to steer the narrative in Biden’s favor, and instead remains evasive about Manchin and Sinema’s role in negotiations.
Jen Psaki answers whether or not President Biden thinks the progressive caucus "can trust" Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema: “They can speak to that. I’ll let them do that.” pic.twitter.com/Po7okofwsX
— WCPT 820 (@WCPT820) September 29, 2021
Manchin also said that if Democrats want a higher price tag, they should get more progressives elected.
Author: Asa McCue
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