Sen. Joe Manchin hit the brakes on a newly touted social welfare spending deal, arguing it needs much more work and consideration before he throws his support behind it.
Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, refused to back the $1.75 trillion measure immediately but said he’s “open” to supporting it, depending on the details of the bill. Manchin’s announcement threatens a planned vote on the package later this month in the House, as well as a second vote on a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill President Joe Biden is eager to sign into law.
He accused Democrats of playing “shell games” with the cost estimates of the latest deal, which is half of the initial $3.5 trillion Democrats hoped to spend.
Democratic negotiators helped cut down the cost of the measure by shortening the time frame for programs. A child tax credit, for example, would expire after one year instead of becoming permanent.
“What I see are shell games, budget gimmicks that make the real cost of the so-called $1.75 trillion bill estimated to be almost twice that amount,” Manchin said.
Manchin suggested the measure as written ignores the impact of spending on inflation and the U.S. debt, which has already reached $29 trillion. Manchin said leaders “ignore” the exploding debt, and he questioned expanding new government programs while existing ones teeter on the brink of insolvency.
“How can I in good conscience vote for a bill that proposes massive expansion of social programs when vital programs like Social Security and Medicare face insolvency, and benefits can start being reduced as soon as 2026 in Medicare and 2033 in Social Security?” Manchin said. “How does that make sense? And I don’t think it does.”
Manchin said he would not decide whether to vote for the bill until the text of the measure is written and, in the meantime, demanded Democrats pass the infrastructure bill, which the Senate approved with bipartisan support last summer.
Manchin warned Democrats their tactic of blocking the infrastructure bill will not speed up the passage of the social welfare spending bill.
“Holding that bill hostage is not going to work in getting my support for what you want,” Manchin said.
Democrats in the House are refusing to pass the infrastructure bill until the social welfare spending package is ready for a vote in both chambers.
Many Democrats are demanding the social welfare bill pass the House and the Senate before they will vote for the infrastructure bill.
