Manchin Admits Getting His Bill Passed and Then Tanking Progressive Package Was Always the Plan

[CousinIT]

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/09/30/manchin-admits-getting-his-bill-passed-and-then-tanking-progressive-package-was?

Sen. Joe Manchin admitted Thursday, ahead of a scheduled House vote on the Senate-passed bipartisan infrastructure bill, that it had been corporate Democrats' plan all along to first secure passage of their fossil fuel-friendly legislation and then undermine the party's more ambitious reconciliation package that proposes investing up to $3.5 trillion over a decade in clean energy and the social safety net.

The conservative West Virginia Democrat told reporters Thursday that on July 28, he secured a signed agreement (pdf) from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) outlining his conditions for voting on the final reconciliation bill.

A spokesperson for Schumer, meanwhile, told Politico that "Schumer never agreed to any of the conditions Sen. Manchin laid out; he merely acknowledged where Sen. Manchin was on the subject at the time."

In addition to demanding a topline figure no higher than $1.5 trillion, something he reiterated on Thursday, Manchin said in July that he wanted to delay debate on the reconciliation package until October 1.

Meanwhile, a small group of corporate-funded House Democrats—led by Rep. Josh Gottheimer (N.J.) and supported by Manchin and fellow right-wing Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.)—in August pressured Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to bring the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework (BIF) to the floor by September 27 in exchange for their votes on the $3.5 trillion budget resolution that enabled lawmakers to draft the Build Back Better Act, as the reconciliation package has since been named.

Critics were quick to point out the significance of Manchin's revelation.

"It sure feeds the idea that their goal is to pass BIF then bail on reconciliation," noted former Senate staffer Adam Jentleson, now executive director of the Battle Born Collective, a progressive messaging firm.

[pwb]

1. Notice all the pukes following his lead and jumping ship?

None. But that is bipartisanship ha Manchin?

[jimfields33]

4. The first infrastructure bill passed 68-32

That’s pretty bipartisan. I’m sure the house could pass it with some of the other party.

[FBaggins]

2. "Schumer never agreed to any of the conditions Sen. Manchin laid out"

This despite signing a document that was titled "Agreement to Start Budget Resolution"

Which consideration he received just days later?

[Irish_Dem]

3. So he got what he wanted and said to hell with everyone else?