Current:Home > Contact-usManchin Calls On Democrats To Hit Pause On The $3.5 Trillion Budget Package-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Manchin Calls On Democrats To Hit Pause On The $3.5 Trillion Budget Package
View Date:2024-12-23 16:19:28
Sen. Joe Manchin has called on Democrats to take a "strategic pause" in advancing their historic $3.5 trillion budget plan, putting in peril President Biden's most ambitious effort to stabilize the U.S. economy and boost the middle class.
In an opinion piece published in the Wall Street Journal on Thursday, the West Virginia senator criticized his party as being shortsighted and hypocritical in its pursuit of passing the multitrillion-dollar budget, which Democrats see as vital to tackling climate change, child care affordability and fair housing.
"The nation faces an unprecedented array of challenges and will inevitably encounter additional crises in the future," Manchin wrote. "Yet some in Congress have a strange belief there is an infinite supply of money to deal with any current or future crisis, and that spending trillions upon trillions will have no negative consequence for the future. I disagree."
Manchin wrote that because of the challenges posed by the nation's high inflation rate as well as the unpredictable nature of the pandemic — particularly as it pertains to the rapidly emerging variants of the virus — Democrats should not "rush" to use spending as a fix for the nation's current woes. Rather, lawmakers should take a longer-term view about how today's fiscal policy could impact future generations.
Democrats have said the budget will be paid for with tax increases on corporations and the wealthy as well as other proposals.
Under the reconciliation process, budget bills can pass the Senate with only a simple majority rather than a 60-vote supermajority. Republicans used the process in 2017 to pass then-President Donald Trump's tax bill, facing criticisms from Democrats for pushing through deeply partisan legislation.
"Respectfully, it was wrong when the Republicans did it, and it is wrong now," Manchin wrote.
A Manchin 'no' would mean the budget would need GOP support
If Manchin defects, as he has signaled before that he would, Democrats would have to sway at least one Republican to vote for the budget — a tall order in the highly partisan chamber.
"If we want to invest in America, a goal I support, then let's take the time to get it right and determine what is absolutely necessary," Manchin wrote.
The West Virginia Democrat has often been at odds with more progressive members of his party, and he has emerged as a critical swing vote. Democrats control the 50-50 Senate, with the vice president working as a tie-breaker.
Some House Democrats rail against Manchin's call
House Democrats, who also hold a slim — but not quite as precarious — majority, quickly decried Manchin's suggestion.
In a tweet, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez referenced the deadly Hurricane Ida that washed ashore in Louisiana before striking deadly blows across the Northeast and Manchin's coal interests.
Jamaal Bowman of New York also pointed to Hurricane Ida's destruction and the evidence that climate change is fueling more and deadlier natural disasters.
veryGood! (71236)
Related
- Shawn Mendes Confesses He and Camila Cabello Are No Longer the Closest
- MLB playoff picture: Wild card standings, latest 2024 division standings
- Olivia Munn and John Mulaney Welcome Baby No. 2
- Lactaid Milk voluntarily recalled in 27 states over almond allergen risk
- Tony Todd, star of 'Candyman,' 'Final Destination,' dies at 69
- California governor signs law banning all plastic shopping bags at grocery stores
- A'ja Wilson wins unanimous WNBA MVP, joining rare company with third award
- Breaking Through in the Crypto Market: How COINIXIAI Stands Out in a Competitive Landscape
- Climate Advocacy Groups Say They’re Ready for Trump 2.0
- Janet Jackson didn't authorize apology for comments about Kamala Harris' race, reps say
Ranking
- Florida man’s US charges upgraded to killing his estranged wife in Spain
- ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ scares off ‘Transformers’ for third week as box office No. 1
- The Eagles Las Vegas setlist: All the songs from their Sphere concert
- Target's new 'Cuddle Collab' line has matching Stanley cups for your pet and much more
- 2 more escaped monkeys recaptured and enjoying peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in South Carolina
- Four Downs and a Bracket: Bully Ball is back at Michigan and so is College Football Playoff hope
- Man found shot at volleyball courts on University of Arizona campus, police say
- Alaska Airlines grounds flights at Seattle briefly due to tech outage
Recommendation
-
Alexandra Daddario Shares Candid Photo of Her Postpartum Body 6 Days After Giving Birth
-
Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen Share Professional Update in Rare Interview
-
Election 2024 Latest: Trump and Harris work to expand their coalitions in final weeks of election
-
One more curtain call? Mets' Pete Alonso hopes this isn't a farewell to Queens
-
Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul referee handled one of YouTuber's biggest fights
-
Election 2024 Latest: Trump and Harris work to expand their coalitions in final weeks of election
-
Colorado, Deion Sanders party after freak win vs. Baylor: `There's nothing like it'
-
Search underway for suspects in Alabama mass shooting that killed 4 and injured 17