Manchin calls for Democrats to hit 'pause' on $3.5 trillion spending bill

Sen. Joe Manchin threw a wrench into his party’s plans to pass an ambitious spending package by urging lawmakers on Thursday to “hit a strategic pause” on $3.5 trillion spending legislation.

“While some have suggested this reconciliation legislation must be passed now, I believe that making budgetary decisions under artificial political deadlines never leads to good policy or sound decisions,” Manchin wrote in an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal. “I have always said if I can’t explain it, I can’t vote for it, and I can’t explain why my Democratic colleagues are rushing to spend $3.5 trillion.”