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Manchin Makes It Official, Build Back Better Agenda Is A ‘No’

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OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.


Democrat West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin just ended any chance of Joe Biden and the Democrat Party’s Build Back Better agenda happening.

The senator, who has been a thorn in the side of the White House since Biden was inaugurated, made the announcement during his appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” CNN reported.

“I cannot vote to continue with this piece of legislation, I just can’t. I tried everything humanly possible, I can’t get there” he said to host Bret Baier who was on after former host Chris Wallace stepped away from the show last week.

“You’re done – this is a no,” the host said.

“This is a no, on this legislation,” the senator said. “I have tried everything I know to do.”

“This is a no on this legislation. I have tried everything I know to do. And the President has worked diligently. He’s been wonderful to work with. He knows I’ve had concerns and the problems I’ve had and and, you know, the thing that we should all be directing our attention towards the variant, a Covid that we have coming back at us in so many different aspects in different ways, it’s affecting our lives again,” he said.

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His statement essentially ends any chance of the massive social spending bill being passed.

He cited inflation and the deficit as two  of the reasons he cannot vote for a bill that spends more than $1 trillion on social spending.

“When you have these things coming at you the way they are right now, I’ve always said this, Bret, if I can’t go home to the people of West Virginia, I can’t vote for it,” the senator said.

He confirmed that he is “done” on this legislation.

Vermont Progressive Democratic Sen. Bernie Sanders appeared on the CNN Sunday show “State of the Union” and was furious with Sen. Manchin.

“I think he’s going to have a lot of explaining to do to the people of West Virginia” and calling on Democrats to put the bill to a floor vote to pressure Manchin into voting no on the record,” he said.

“I hope that we will bring a strong bill to the floor of the Senate as soon as we can and let Mr. Manchin explain to the people of West Virginia why he doesn’t have the guts to stand up to the powerful special interests,” he said.

“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,” the senator said.

Manchin has been harassed by the media ever since his opposition to the bill was apparent, and last week he went off on a reporter.

While speaking with the press, Manchin venter his frustration with the media in the wake of a report that he wants to drop the child tax credit from Biden’s climate and social spending package.

“This is bullshit. You’re bullshit,” Manchin yelled at HuffPost reporter Arthur Delaney.

Delaney had asked Manchin about the reports that the child tax credit has become a major sticking point in talks with the White House.

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“I’m done, I’m done,” Manchin fumed.

Manchin denied the reports several times on Wednesday, saying the media had heard “bad rumors” and that he does support the child tax credit.

“I’m not opposed to child tax credit, I’ve never been opposed to child tax credit,” he insisted.

“Guys, I’m not negotiating with any of you all. You can ask all the questions you want. Guys, let me go. This is bullshit. You’re bullshit,” he told Delaney in the Capitol subway, grumbling “God almighty” as he walked away.

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Biden and Democrats were hit with some bad news this week about their socialist agenda.

“First, there was the news of the likely death of the Build Back Better (BBB) bill, after it became clear that Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) still wasn’t on board in the wake of the very concerning CBO numbers. Reports were that the bill was being put off until possibly March because they don’t have the votes now, despite the Democrats’ claim that they wanted it passed this year,” RedState reported.

“So Democrats would need 60 votes which they would not have. On top of all that, the media may just have pushed Manchin too far yesterday. Manchin has a long fuse and usually has a very genteel response to things, but he’s been stalked and hounded by activists and reporters everywhere,” the outlet added.

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