Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Sunday slammed Sen. Joe Manchin after the West Virginia Democrat appeared on Fox News to say that he would not vote for President Joe Biden’s economic package.
“I think he’s gonna have a lot of explaining to do to the people of West Virginia,” Sanders told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union” adding that Manchin “doesn’t have the guts to stand up to powerful special interests.”
Sanders then called on Senate Democrats to take a vote on the bill regardless of where Manchin stands.
“We’ve been dealing with Mr. Manchin for month after month after month. But if he doesn’t have the courage to do the right thing for the working families of West Virginia and America, let him vote no in front of the whole world,” he added.
During an interview on Fox News Sunday, Manchin told host Bret Baier, “I cannot vote to continue with this piece of legislation, I just can’t. I tried everything humanly possible, I can’t get there.”
Senate Democrats had planned to pass the legislation through reconciliation, which needs 50 votes to pass. But the legislation is now in jeopardy without Manchin’s crucial vote in a Senate that is split 50-50.
Watch Sander’s interview below:
"If he doesn't have the courage to do the right thing for the working families of West Virginia and America, let him vote no in front of the whole world." Sen. Bernie Sanders reacts to Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin saying "no" to Biden's Build Back Better Act. #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/oEQaD19tAd
— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) December 19, 2021
