Manchin 'open' to $3.5 trillion Democratic budget deal
By Alexander Bolton - 07/14/21 10:37 AM EDT
Centrist Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said Wednesday he’s open to the $3.5 trillion spending agreement reached by Democrats on the Senate Budget Committee, which would be entirely paid for with yet to be specified tax measures, but he’s holding back on fully endorsing the deal until further review.
Manchin’s cautious optimism about the agreement means that Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) two-track strategy for moving President Biden’s infrastructure agenda is still moving in the right direction.
“I heard about it this morning or late last night from my staff,” Manchin told reporters on Wednesday. “So, we’re anxious to basically review it. They worked hard on it, we want to see it. Also, I’ve been very clear that I want to see the pay-fors and make sure that whatever we do is globally competitive.”
“I’m open to looking at everything they provide. OK? They’re going to have to provide all the information that’s going to be needed,” he added. “They worked hard, they should have a proposal.”
Manchin said he looked forward to hearing from Biden, who is scheduled to meet with Democrats Wednesday to discuss a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure proposal endorsed by the White House as well as the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation plan.
“The president is going to come today and explain. We’ll listen to that, we’ll look at the proposal, look at the priorities they have for our country and then basically look at how we’re going to pay for it,” he said.
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https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/562937-manchin-open-to-35-trillion-democratic-budget-deal
