West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin has reportedly taken his proposal for a $1.8 trillion compromise on President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better plan off the table, which could effectively kill Democratic Party’s signature social-spending agenda, The Washington Post reported Saturday,
Manchin, who has consulted Mitt Romney and Trump’s former economic adviser Larry Kudlow, had backed climate and education spending, but talks are now on ice, The Post reported, citing three sources with knowledge of the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.
Manchin’s compromise package made extensive changes to the $2 trillion Build Back Better Act that passed the House of Representatives with no Republican support in November — a budget-buster that, the Congressional Budget Office warned, could add $367 billion to the nation’s deficit.
The senator’s proposal included funding for universal pre-K, an Obamacare expansion, and a tax on billionaires — but left out the expanded child tax credit, a must-have for the party’s progressive wing.
With the Senate divided 50-50, lockstep Democratic unanimity is required for the budget bill to become law.
Meanwhile, the White House has continued to project optimism that it will eventually secure Manchin’s vote and approval of a major economic plan by Congress.
The report came days after Manchin told the media that he was no longer discussing Biden’s long-sought bill with the White House.
Instead, he has been meeting with Republicans — including Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, who sought to rescue the child tax credit measure, and President Donald Trump’s former economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, who is looking to “kill the bill.”
