Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) revealed Sunday that he will not support President Joe Biden’s ambitious $ 3.5 trillion spending plan, adding that “there is no way” for Congress to meet the term of the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, to approve it at the end of the month. “[Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer] I will not have my vote on $ 3.5 [trillion] and Chuck knows it and we’ve talked about it, “the West Virginia Conservative Democrat told CNN State of the Union.
Manchin, who earlier this month called for a “pause” in the massive budget resolution, also told NBC’s Meet the press that the cost of the bill was the prohibitive issue. “No, I couldn’t stand $ 3.5 trillion,” he said, suggesting once again that Democrats “put a break” in spending. Manchin also said he would probably only support a $ 1.5 trillion spending plan that included a “globally competitive” tax code.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), one of the key architects of the spending bill, told CNN on Sunday that Manchin’s opposition to the bill “is not acceptable.” He also said there is a “sense of urgency” when it comes to passing spending legislation. Meanwhile, Progressives in Congress have said they will not vote on the $ 1 trillion infrastructure bill already passed by the Senate unless budget reconciliation goes hand in hand.