The White House projected optimism that Sen. Joe Manchin would support President Joe Biden’s $1.75 trillion social welfare and climate package despite the centrist West Virginia Democrat threatening not to vote for Biden’s new framework.
Press secretary Jen Psaki insisted Monday that Manchin was “prepared” to back Biden’s framework, which he revised down last week in a last-minute attempt to win Manchin and Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s endorsement so House liberals would pass his $1.2 trillion infrastructure deal, if it “combats inflation, is fiscally responsible, and will create jobs.”
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“The plan the House is finalizing meets those tests — it is fully paid for, will reduce the deficit, and brings down costs for health care, child care, elder care, and housing,” she wrote in a statement. “Experts agree: Seventeen Nobel Prize-winning economists have said it will reduce inflation. As a result, we remain confident that the plan will gain Senator Manchin’s support.”
Manchin told reporters Monday he wanted to know how Biden’s $1.75 trillion social welfare and climate framework “would impact our debt, and our economy, and our country.”
“We won’t know that until we work through the text,” he said. “I’m open to supporting a final bill that helps move our country forward. But I’m equally open to voting against a bill that hurts our country.”
Manchin also implored House lawmakers to approve the $1.2 trillion infrastructure deal. Manchin is for that deal, despite the Congressional Budget Office projecting it would add $256 billion to the federal deficit. The House could have considered it as early as Tuesday before Manchin’s remarks.
Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, signaled shortly after Manchin’s comments that they would not deter her members from backing Biden’s $1.2 trillion infrastructure deal or his $1.75 trillion social welfare and climate framework.
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“The president says he can get 51 votes for the bill — we are going to trust him,” she said. “We’re tired of continuing to wait for one or two people.”
