Topline
Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a conservative Democrat whose swing vote is critical for his party, told MSNBC Wednesday that he “strongly” disagrees with using reconciliation to pass President Biden’s sweeping $1.9 trillion stimulus agenda without Republican votes instead of exhausting every option to achieve a bipartisan agreement.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) speaks to reporters in the Senate subway following a vote at the U.S. … [+]
Key Facts
Manchin on Tuesday voted with Democrats in the Senate to begin debate on a 2021 budget resolution—the first step in the mechanism that will allow them to pass the $1.9 trillion plan without Republican votes—but he noted in a statement earlier that day that he “will only support proposals that will get us through and end the pain of this pandemic.”
That means Manchin could still vote against provisions in the plan that he opposes, like a $15 national minimum wage.
Tuesday’s Senate vote to go the reconciliation route (and an expected House vote on Wednesday) will open the door to a period called a “vote-a-rama” where lawmakers have the opportunity to offer up an unlimited number of amendments to the plan—Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Tuesday pointed to that process as evidence that the final bill can be crafted with Republican input.
Manchin echoed that view on Wednesday: “I just want to make sure that the process is open to Democrats and Republicans.”
Manchin Wednesday morning reiterated his opposition to certain aspects of the stimulus check provision in Biden’s plan, saying that he wants direct payments in the amount of $1,400 to go out “as quickly as possible” but adding that they should be more targeted to individuals and families with lower incomes.
Crucial Quote
“I want [the next stimulus bill] to be bipartisan,” Manchin said. “If [Democrats] think that they’re going to…throw all caution to the wind and just shove it down people’s throats, that’s not going to happen.”
Key Background
On Monday, Biden met with a group of ten Senate Republicans who had crafted a pared-back $618 billion package as an alternative to his aggressive plan. The smaller plan would scale back stimulus checks, federal unemployment benefits, and school funding and omit any new aid for state, local and tribal governments. It does not include any provision related to a national minimum wage (Biden and many Democrats want to raise it to $15 per hour). The White House reiterated Tuesday that Biden still believes a $1.9 trillion package is appropriate.
What To Watch For
Lawmakers are already discussing possible changes to the bill, including more than 100 Democrats who are pushing to repeal certain tax breaks created by the CARES Act last March which they say benefit “a narrow set of high-income taxpayers, including hedge funds.” On Wednesday, Manchin floated the idea of using an amendment to change the income cap for the next round of stimulus checks—something other Democrats have also considered.
Further Reading
Senate Democrats Move Biden’s $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Plan Forward—With Or Without Republican Support (Forbes)
Conservative Democrat Joe Manchin Says He Won’t Hold Up Biden’s $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Plan (Forbes)
Both Competing Stimulus Plans Would Return Economy To Pre-Pandemic Levels By The Second Quarter, But Here’s Where They Differ (Forbes)
Democrats Take First Step To Push Biden Stimulus Plan Through Congress Over GOP Objections (Forbes)
