The most influential Democrat in the United States doesn’t reside in the White House. Joe Manchin’s a moderate Senator from West Virginia who emerged as a critical swing vote on Friday when he delayed the Senate’s vote on the $1.9T American Rescue Plan by threatening to side with Republicans if concessions weren’t made.
Manchin forced Democrats to scramble after he opposed the last-minute addition of a $10,200 tax exemption on unemployment insurance to the bill, which was included to take the sting off the proposal to reduce benefits by $100 weekly.
The lone Democrat representing red state West Virginia had committed to backing a GOP amendment that would cut off the $300 benefits at the end of July, while his party was pushing for an extension until the end of September. Manchin worries that there won’t be enough workers to open up the economy over the summer when he believes the vaccine will be widespread enough to allow for it.
“We want people to get back to work. We’re gonna have a hard time getting people ready to go back in to keep the economy going,” he commented in an interview last week. “It’d be awful for the doors to open up and there’s no one working… That’s the problem.”
Manchin has a history of voting against party lines, he approved Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination and opposed Neera Tanden’s. He voted to withhold funding from sanctuary cities and to terminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood. A 2018 study revealed he voted along with former President Donald Trump’s position 71% of the time.
The former West Virginia Governor is a self-proclaimed “moderate conservative Democrat,” who owns guns, identifies as pro-life, supports building both the border wall and Keystone XL Pipeline, opposes statehood for Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, and voted against providing pandemic support for undocumented immigrants.
Though Democrats control the Senate by a narrow 50-50 margin with Vice President Kamala Harris as the tie-breaker, Manchin believes bipartisanship is the only way forward for Congress.
“Now, more than ever, we must enter a new era of bipartisanship in Washington,” he remarked. “With tight margins in the House and Senate, Democrats and Republicans are faced with a decision to either work together to put the priorities of our nation before partisan politics or double down on the dysfunctional tribalism.”
After more than ten hours of stalling, Manchin signed off on an amended plan to ax benefits on September 6th, and restrict the eligibility for the non-taxable component to households with an annual income of less than $150,000.
Although he ultimately sided with his party, he’s using his swing-voting power to threaten President Biden’s upcoming climate change and infrastructure package if the GOP isn’t involved in negotiations. “I’m not going to do it through reconciliation,” he said in an Axios interview. “I am not going to get on a bill that cuts them out completely before we start trying.”
The legislation, which is expected to cost nearly $4 trillion, will only be supported by Manchin if it can be paid for with tax increases that would include hiking corporate taxes from 21% to “at least” 25% and repealing parts of former President Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
He worries the nation’s skyrocketing fiscal debt could cause “a tremendous, deep recession that could lead into a depression if we’re not careful,” but is optimistic that the package could be passed under a normal 60 senator vote. When asked if he believed 10 Republicans would vote in favor, he said: “I sure do.”
Manchin should be invited to join the republicans. He doesn’t belong with the idiots in the commiecrat party
I live in West Virginia Manchin no conservative he did you just see that he said he wouldn’t sign a bill that was just one party and then signed it said he wanted to keep filibuster now he’s talking changes to it he says one thing on camera and votes different he get elected because no one runs against him
No… Manchin is where he should be and works best… He is a democrat, but has a conscience that he uses 10% of the time.
If he was in Michigan, he would be better than the two loser dems we have, but i would still vote for a conservative (or republican) to replace him.
Manchin still backed West Virginian taxpayers bailing out mismanaged Sanctuary Cities in other States, checks for incarcerated criminals and illegal aliens (as if they’re not costing taxpayers enough), and tons and tons of pork. West Virginia????? How is this Marxist in Sheep’s clothing good for WV?
If Manchin voted that s##t down , then he is a good man to have around !
It’s not. It’s all an act!
He still voted for the $1.9 Trillion democrat handout that has very little to do with helping those affected by Covid.
Maybe if he switched parties, he’d grow a pair and vote like he talks.
I’m still waiting for most Republicans to grow a pair!
Manchin is a pud
Never forget that
Manchin is a democrat…don’t let him fool you into thinking otherwise. He’s proven that. Really…he only does handwringing with important votes, please.
I would not trust Manchin. He always tries to play both sides of the fence. He is the democrat version of Collins, Murkowski, Romney, and a few other RINOS. When push comes to shove he will yield to Shumer.
I don’t trust Sen. Manchin (D-VW) when it comes to keeping the Filibuster and not packing the Supreme court, as he appears to be waffling!
I am a West Virginian. I am also old enough to remember A James Manchin, Joe’s uncle; his mentor. The elder Manchin was also one of the slickest, most corrupt politicians our state ever had – and we have had some doozies.
Watch his words over the years, and then look how he actually voted.
The Dems do ALLOW him to vote against them when it is clear they have enough votes to easily win an issue – after all, he has to be re-elected in a bright red state.
BUT: if it is going to be even close, Joe will vote with his Dem leaders every time, despite assuring us he won’t. Then he consoles us with some soothing words of explanation, sounding ever so reasonable.
Do not trust him.
One huge point…. Manchin made it and I and my colleagues have been discussing…. When a person is laid off and getting unemployment and they get an additional $400 or $300 and are making more than they did working, will they go back to work when called?
If not, their jobs may be taken by illegal aliens, like it or not. Then, when the unemployment is gone, they will be 100% dependent on the government.
One more way the government, especially leftist policies, work like drug dealers. They entice you for a little… then get you enjoying it… then you are hooked and they control you.
He’s the only Democrat that I can look at and not feel anger.
Joe Manchin will get a large portion of pork for his state, and be quiet. He seems like he cares about America, but , he is still a DEMOCRAT!
This guy is such a CON, he question DemRats and when comes to vote he 98% vote with them. I do no trust and flag on the wind. DemRats or RepRats. The whole Congress is a joke on OUR MONEY. Pelosi included.