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US President Joe Biden and the Democrats’ Build Back Better bill remains stalled in the Senate as it faces opposition from West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin. Manchin recently cited another reason for opposing the social and climate infrastructure bill, that the proposal did not go through committee.
Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union” over the weekend, Manchin explained another reason why he opposed the Build Back Better bill. The right-wing Democratic lawmaker also endorsed Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski while also brushing off the notion that he would not receive the backing of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer should he be challenged for his Senate seat.
CNN host Manu Raju noted that Manchin’s opposition to the Build Back Better bill was because the proposal bypassed the committee and went to the Senate floor. This is despite the bipartisan infrastructure bill having done the same. Both Murkowski and Manchin helped draft the proposal.
“The Build Back Better bill as has been presented, that bill will no longer exist,” said Manchin. “My biggest concern and my biggest opposition – it did not go through the process. It should have gone through the committee.”
“These are major changes. It’s going to change society as we know it,” Manchin continued. “There should be a hearing, there should be a markup, then you’re going to have a better product.”
Manchin announced his opposition to the Build Back Better bill during an appearance on Fox News back in December. Shortly after announcing his opposition, a Republican megadonor and his wife donated $5,000 to Manchin’s PAC.
The West Virginia Democrat’s opposition to the social and climate infrastructure bill drew a lot of backlash from members of his own party, including Independent Progressive Senator Bernie Sanders. Speaking on MSNBC also shortly after Manchin announced his opposition, Sanders cited that Manchin’s own constituents in West Virginia are in need of the provisions laid out in the Build Back Better bill.
Sanders also noted the unanimous Republican opposition to the bill alongside Manchin’s own opposition and that Democrats have already adhered to the West Virginia Democrat’s demands as to the provisions of the proposal.
“What is troubling to me is that you have two senators who are not just prepared to fight for their ideas but they have said, ‘It’s my way or the highway. If you don’t do what I want, Mr. President or members of the Democratic caucus, I’m walking away from here.’ And that is an arrogance I think is unacceptable,” said Sanders.
