Sen. Joe Manchin, of West Virginia, dismantled Fox News host Harris Faulkner’s false claims that the Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act legislation will raise taxes on Americans making under $400,000 a year, calling her claims “a pure outright lie.”
Faulkner grilled Manchin about his proposed bill, which would implement a minimum 15 percent tax on large corporations, open up new opportunities for oil and gas extraction, invest in green energy resources, allow Medicare to negotiate for a limited number of prescription drug prices, and lock in stronger subsidies for Americans who get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act.
At one point, Manchin turned the tables on Faulkner, asking her why she seemed so opposed to what he described as a moderate deal that didn’t exclusively rely on green energy sources and that didn’t raise taxes on anyone making under $400,000 a year. He also asked the host if she feared that his big bill focused on health care, energy, and deficit reduction would be good policy,
“Harris, are you afraid we’re going to do something good that’ll help our country?” Manchin asked her.
Faulkner was immediately taken aback by this remark.
“Of course not, my father served!” she said indignantly. “Are you kidding? Service is in the Bible! That’s what we do, we serve our fellow man and woman! Don’t make this personal because it’s not!”
Faulkner then quoted the Joint Committee on Taxation’s claim that the Biden-Schumer legislation will raise taxes. Manchin explained to Faulkner the Joint Committee’s report was only written by Republicans.
“So that is unfair, so let’s be accurate, what we’re doing here. The bottom line is how in the world can you be ‘raising taxes’ when all we’re saying is the wealthiest corporations in America, 55 of them pay zero to help this great country of ours to defend ourselves.”
But Faulkner continued to push her false claim.
“Well how does this change that, because that’s part of the corporate structuring?”
“It’s a minimum of 15%,” Manchin explained, stating that corporations instead of paying zero dollars in taxes would by law be required to pay at minimum 15%.
“The tax rate was at 35% before 2017,” he continued, offering some history. “Then it went to 21%. That was a tremendous savings, but that’s not good enough” for the corporations and the GOP, Manchin said. “All we’re saying is at 15% minimum, everyone in West Virginia I know and most people around the country pay a 21% corporate or greater. So why can’t the greatest billion dollars of revenue a year, why can’t they pay at least 15% for this great country?”
Faulkner then suggested if corporations, like Archer Daniels Midland, Charter Communications, FedEx, and Nike which have a history of paying zero taxes, have to pay a 15% minimum tax, it could lead to higher unemployment – before going back to her false claim that the bill raises taxes on those making under $400,000 a year.
“But $400,000 was supposed to be the cut off and I’m reading – and I am reading Senator,” Faulkner said, challenging Manchin, despite him having repeatedly correcting her false claims.
And again, Faulkner falsely claimed, “I’m saying Americans $400,000 and below now are going to be taxed. Their taxes are going to go up.”
“That’s wrong,” Manchin replied. “That’s a lie. That is a pure outright lie.”
Watch the videos below:
“Harris, are you afraid we’re going to do something good that’ll help our country?” — Joe Manchin to Harris Faulkner, setting her off pic.twitter.com/uhcl2xwQGA
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 2, 2022
Joe Manchin: "Who is paying any taxes that doesn’t have a corporation that has revenue of over a billion dollars a year? Not one person."
Fox News' Harris Faulkner: Americans making below $400,000, their taxes will go up.
Manchin: "That's a lie. A pure outright lie." pic.twitter.com/EAxTVMk8cc
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) August 2, 2022
