Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. told Democratic leadership late Thursday night he will not support the climate or tax provisions of a Democratic economic package, according to a Democrat briefed on the conversations.
Manchin, a conservative-leaning Democrat whose opposition has effectively stalled President Joe Biden’s economic package in the evenly divided Senate, informed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and his staff, saying “unequivocally” that he won’t support funding for climate or energy programs or raising taxes on wealthy Americans and corporations.
Manchin “was explicit that he will not support a bill in August” with energy or climate provisions or one “closing tax loopholes exploited by the wealthiest” and large corporations, “despite his support for those specific things throughout the entire negotiation,” said the Democrat briefed about the discussions, reports NBC News.
CNN News is now reporting that in a Friday radio interview, Manchin disputed the characterization that he had blown up the negotiations with Schumer but said that he asked that they wait until the July inflation numbers came out and pursue this after August recess.
“I said, ‘Chuck until we see the July inflation figures – until we see the July, basically Federal Reserve rates, interest rates, then let’s wait till that comes out so we know that we’re going down a path that won’t be inflammatory, to add more to inflation,’ ” Manchin told Hoppy Kercheval on Talkline. “He says, ‘Are you telling me you won’t do the other right now?’ I said, ‘Chuck, it’s wrong, it’s not prudent to do the other right now.’ “
The shift capped off weeks of painstaking negotiations to cobble together a package that could win Mr. Manchin’s support. It came seven months after the West Virginian abruptly walked away from talks and rejected a far larger plan.
“Political headlines are of no value to the millions of Americans struggling to afford groceries and gas as inflation soars to 9.1 percent,” said Sam Runyon, a spokeswoman for Mr. Manchin, according to the New York Times.
“Senator Manchin believes it’s time for leaders to put political agendas aside, re-evaluate and adjust to the economic realities the country faces to avoid taking steps that add fuel to the inflation fire.”
“Senator Manchin has not walked away from the table,” she added.
