Democrats cutting paid leave from spending deal amid Manchin opposition
By Jordain Carney and Naomi Jagoda - 10/27/21 05:41 PM EDT
Democrats are expected to drop paid leave from President Biden's sweeping spending plan, two sources familiar with the talks confirmed to The Hill.
The decision, absent a major reversal, is a blow to Democrats' hopes of using the social spending plan to offer what they initially envisioned as being 12 weeks of paid leave, which was then scaled down to four weeks and then appearing in limbo for much of this week.
A source familiar told The Hill that paid leave is being dropped from the bill by the Senate.
A second source familiar with the talks described Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) as the hold up to getting paid leave into the bill, describing him as "firm" in his opposition and suggesting it was out absent a shift by him.
"It likely will not be in the final bill, despite many members lobbying him to support," the source added.
Democrats had been working for days to try to come up with a paid leave policy that could satisfy Manchin. Because Democrats only have 50 votes they need all their members on board.
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https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/578813-democrats-cutting-paid-leave-from-spending-deal-amid-manchin-opposition
