In an impromptu news conference Monday, West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin called for a House vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill. The bill passed in the Senate, but has been held up the House amid negotiations over President Joe Biden’s $1.75 trillion Build Back Better Act. The video above shows clips from the news conference where Manchin made the announcement.
“It is time to vote on the BIF bill up or down and then go home and explain to your constituents the decision you made,” Manchin said. “For the sake of the country, I urge the House to vote and pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill.”
Democrats have been working to finish up the Build Back Better Act. A first round of House votes could happen later this week. In the meantime, Progressives have been refusing to vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill until they get commitments from Manchin and fellow Democratic holdout Sen. Kyrsten Sinema to support the Build Back Better Act.
“Holding this bill hostage is not going to work in getting my support for a reconciliation bill,” Manchin said Monday. “If I can’t go home and explain it, I can’t vote for it and if I can, I will.”
Addressing the Build Back Better Act further, Manchin’s comments Monday casts doubt over whether he would support it in its current form.
“What I see are shell games, budget gimmicks that make the real cost of the so-called $1.75 trillion dollar bill, estimated to be almost twice that amount if the full time is run out, if you extended it permanently and that we haven’t even spoken about,” Manchin said. “This is a recipe for economic crisis.”
Despite Manchin’s critique of the Build Back Better Act, the White House said it remains confident Manchin will support Biden’s plan.
“Senator Manchin says he is prepared to support a Build Back Better plan that combats inflation, is fiscally responsible, and will create jobs,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement. “The plan the House is finalizing meets those tests—it is fully paid for, will reduce the deficit, and brings down costs for health care, child care, elder care, and housing.”
