You miss a senator and your vote is depopulated. West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin undermines Joe Biden’s gigantic social reform plan after announcing Sunday, December 19, that he would not approve this crucial program for the US president’s term, judging him too expensive in times of inflation.
Obviously taken aback, the White House immediately criticized this “Sudden and inexplicable turnaround”, while asserting that she would continue to try to convince him to vote in favor of the project. The elected West Virginia chose the Fox News channel, very critical of President Biden, to make his announcement.
“I can’t go any further”, launched Mr. Manchin, who has been for weeks one of the main obstacles to this program of social and ecological reforms which aims to transform America. “I can’t vote for this”, added Mr. Manchin, citing in particular the rise in prices and the extent of the debt. “I just can’t. I tried everything that was humanly possible, I can’t ”, he repeated. ” It’s no. “
Baptized “Build Back Better” (“Build back better”), the $ 1.7 trillion plan includes lowering the cost of child care and drugs, tax credits for American households and substantial investments to reduce emissions. greenhouse gas.
“Sudden and inexplicable turnaround”
After a first vote in November in the House of Representatives, where Democrats had overcome their internal differences between centrists, worried about the effect on the debt, and the left wing, which wanted to go further in spending, its adoption in Senate was pushed back. The Senate being divided (fifty elected for each camp), any Democrat or affiliate has in fact what is akin to a veto on any bill if the Republicans close ranks.
Senator Manchin’s statements “Are at odds with his discussions this week with the president, with White House staff and with his own public statements”, said the spokesperson of the executive, Jen Psaki, in a long press release in which frustration was evident.
“If his comments on Fox and his press release indicate the end of these attempts [de parvenir à une entente], then they represent a sudden and inexplicable reversal of his position and a violation of his commitments to the president. “
On Thursday, Mr Biden had conceded that he certainly could not get the draft passed as quickly as he wanted, referring to difficult discussions with Mr Manchin. The senator explained in a statement why he opposed this law “Colossal”.
Manchin “lack of guts”, according to Sanders
“My fellow Democrats in Washington are determined to fundamentally reshape our society in a way that makes our society even more vulnerable to the threats we face., he reacts. I cannot take this risk, with a staggering public debt of $ 29 trillion and inflation that is real and hurts all Americans. “
Inflation hit 6.8% in November year-on-year, unheard of since June 1982. Mr. Biden says the plan “Will reduce the deficit by more than 100 billion dollars over ten years” and that it will allow “Lower costs, create jobs and rebuild our economy”.
Asked on CNN on Sunday about Mr. Manchin’s statements, Senator Bernie Sanders, a left-wing figure of the Democratic Party, accused him of failing to “Notch”. “He’s going to have to explain to the people of West Virginia why he doesn’t have the courage to stand up against drug companies to bring down drug prices, why he’s not ready to extend coverage social “Mr Sanders said, calling for a vote in the Senate to be organized anyway ” as soon as possible “.
“It’s been months that it lasts with Mr. Manchin”, he added. “If he doesn’t have the courage to do what is right for the families of West Virginia and America, let him vote no to the world.” “
