Democratic Senator Joe Manchin says he will not support the Build Back Better Act, dealing a fatal blow to Biden’s proposed social safety net
Manchin’s stance will effectively end negotiations on the current version of the legislation, with the lawmaker expressing concerns over certain provisions.
At the centre of his disagreement with the bill is how it may worsen already soaring inflation across the United States.
Manchin says President Biden has worked diligently to bring him over the line, but when push comes to shove, he simply can’t support it.
Manchin’s support for the 1.9 trillion dollar spending initiative is necessary for the Democrats to pass the legislation in the tightly-held Senate.
The plan would see an expansion of America’s social safety net, reducing childcare and health care costs, and tackling climate change.
Fellow Senator Bernie Sanders has also responded to Manchin’s failure to support the bill, saying his decision does not represent the views and opinions of his state of West Virginia.
Sanders says almost every Democrat is trying to address a range of social security issues, and Manchin doesn’t have the guts to stand up to powerful special interests.
