Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has grown increasingly fond of the Senate’s most centrist Democrat, West Virginia’s Joe Manchin, who is about the only person capable of blocking passage of President Joe Biden’s multitrillion-dollar social welfare and green energy legislation, known as “Build Back Better.”
“I admire Sen. Manchin,” McConnell said. “He’s in a really challenging position in a party that is dominated by East Coast elitism views of what America ought to look like. I pull for him every day, I pray for him every night.”
McConnell, who represents neighboring Kentucky, met privately with Manchin on Tuesday to discuss the Senate agenda, particularly energy policy, which plays a pivotal part in the Build Back Better bill.
Manchin is against anti-fossil fuel provisions in the legislation, including a methane fee opposed by the natural gas industry.
Manchin told reporters following the 40-minute meeting that the two lawmakers “talked a lot about the area we represent, Kentucky and West Virginia, on some issues we all agree on. Energy is one of them.”
Republicans unanimously oppose Build Back Better and are hoping Manchin or fellow centrist Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona will block the bill.
The plan would create a broad array of government programs and subsidies, none of them accompanied by a work requirement. Tax hikes would help pay for the legislation, but some of it would add to the deficit.
Republicans say the bill is economically reckless and would discourage work and raise energy prices while also driving up already-high inflation. It would cost $5 trillion rather than the hundreds of billions it would cost according to the official score, Republicans said.
Senate Democrats plan to pass the measure using a budgetary tactic that averts the GOP filibuster. To do so, they’ll need all 50 Democrats, plus Vice President Kamala Harris to break the tie.
Manchin has not yet committed to voting for the legislation. He’s worried it will drive up inflation, raise energy costs, and discourage work.
Manchin denied reports earlier this year that he’s contemplating a party switch but has not hesitated to huddle with McConnell and other Republicans on occasion.
McConnell said he and Manchin had “a great discussion” on Tuesday and represent similar states.
“I enjoy Joe’s company,” McConnell said. “And we both view part of our responsibility to look after what most people refer to as flyover country. And there’s no question that today’s Democratic Party in Washington is oriented toward the high population, coastal areas of the country. “
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Manchin also met with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, to discuss his concerns about the energy provision in the bill. Schumer said he wants to pass the bill by the end of the year and predicted that every Democrat, including Manchin, will vote for it.
“We’ve had a good meeting with Sen. Manchin today,” Schumer said. “We mainly talked about climate issues, and we’re going to get this bill done with 50 Democrats before Christmas. That’s our goal.”
