Manchin demands infrastructure vote; holds off support on spending bill
By Jordain Carney - 11/01/21 02:26 PM EDT
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) on Monday demanded that the House immediately take up the Senate-passed bipartisan infrastructure bill while making it clear he's not yet ready to support a separate social and climate spending bill.
Manchin, who called a press conference at the Capitol on Monday, railed against House progressives, accusing them of holding the infrastructure bill "hostage" while warning the tactics won't force him to commit to the separate $1.75 trillion spending bill before he is ready.
"The political games have to stop," Manchin said. "Holding this bill hostage is not going to work in getting my support for the reconciliation bill."
Manchin's comments come after the House failed to have a vote last week on the Senate-passed infrastructure bill — again — amid pushback from progressives, who believe that it needs to be moved with the reconciliation package that is expected to carry new funding for health care, education, childcare and other priorities.
It marked the second time that House leadership had canceled plans to hold a vote on the bill amid progressive pushback, and the decision to yank the bill came hours after President Biden tried to rally the House Democratic caucus.
"I’ve never seen anything like this. The President of the United States has addressed the House Democratic caucus twice to urge action on the bipartisan infrastructure bill. ... And still no action. In my view, this is not how the United States Congress should operate," said Manchin, who helped negotiate the bipartisan bill.
Manchin's comments on Monday are likely the polar opposite of what progressives were hoping to hear from their moderate colleague. Progressives want a commitment from Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) on the contents of the spending package.
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https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/579443-manchin-demands-infrastructure-vote-holds-off-support-on-spending-bill
