According to two people familiar with Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin’s statements, the West Virginia senator is skeptical that the Build Back Better bill can pass the Senate this year, possibly undermining Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s attempt to have the package adopted by Christmas.
Manchin has a lot of concerns, including that budget tricks obscure the bill’s actual cost, and he’s working to keep it under $1.75 trillion. However, he is aiming to reduce the bill’s impact in a number of areas, including paid family leave, a methane charge on energy companies’ emissions, and a Medicare extension to cover hearing costs, which passed the House last month. And, according to one of the sources, he wants some of the provisions in the bill’s tax title changed. All of this means major changes to the bill would be required, as well as a full cost analysis by the Congressional Budget Office and a review by the Senate parliamentarian, which raises doubts about whether all of this could be completed in time for the bill to be passed by Christmas, as Schumer hopes.
According to one Democratic source, the bill’s chances of passing this year are “20-25 percent.”
“He’s worried about a number of things,” the person added.
When asked about his private remarks to senators, Manchin told CNN on Thursday night that the vote’s timetable is dependent on when the Senate parliamentarian determines on which elements of the bill meet with the chamber’s rigorous rules. “I’m concerned about debt and inflation,” the West Virginia Democrat remarked. “We should basically pay for what we’re doing.”
“I wouldn’t have any clue how I’m going to vote until I go in,” Manchin said on Thursday if Schumer tries to compel him to make a choice by bringing a bill to the floor.
If he votes no, as Republicans expect, the plan would die in the Senate’s 50-50 split.
In an interview with CNN on Thursday, another prominent moderate Democrat, Sen.
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Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, said she would not promise to vote for the President’s comprehensive social safety net legislation.
Following the House’s ratification of the economic bill, Schumer stated that Senate Democrats will try to reach an agreement with Manchin and Sinema on the package’s size and breadth.
