If Biden (and the progressives that control him) had his way, his massive $3.5 trillion spending bill would have been passed months ago. But a few moderates in the Senate have refused to back it, knowing that if they had, they would lose their jobs. Facing pushback from his own party, Biden was forced to negotiate (something he is not good at), producing a “cheaper” $1.75 trillion spending bill.
Democrats thought that would be low enough to get moderates on board.
But the cuts triggered progressives in the House, who are holding hostage an infrastructure bill to get their socialist agenda through. Despite their games, it seemed like Biden’s massive spending bill, which would raise taxes, increase inflation, and cripple numerous American industries, would go through at the lower cost.
Sen. Joe Manchin, however, the leader of the resistance, has something to say.
“Throughout the last three months, I’ve been straightforward about my concerns that I will not support a reconciliation package that expands social programs and irresponsibly adds to our $29 trillion in national debt…”
Manchin also warned that, as “the real details outline and the basic framework are released, what I see are shell games, budgets gimmicks that make the real cost of the so-called $1.75 trillion bill estimated to be almost twice that amount if the full-time has run out, if you extended it permanently and that we haven’t even spoken about…”
“While I’ve worked hard to find a path to compromise, it’s obvious compromise is not good enough for a lot of my colleagues in Congress.” [Source: Daily Wire]
Despite reports that Biden’s watered-down spending bill was sure to go through in the Senate, Joe Manchin is once again throwing water on it. He claimed Biden and Democrats are playing “shell games,” using “budget gimmicks” to trick Americans into thinking the package will be cheaper. But Manchin warned the spending bill will be twice the $1.75 trillion they claim it would cost.
Manchin was particularly brutal over Biden’s aggressive spending agenda that creates new social programs, but neglects longstanding ones like Social Security and Medicare. Biden’s “social safety net” bill will provide billions to put more Americans on welfare, but has no provisions for programs that have been supporting retired Americans for decades. In fact, this bill does nothing to address warnings that Medicare will be out of money by 2026 and Social Security by 2033.
That’s unacceptable for Joe Manchin.
It seems like Manchin is still determined not to support this radical bill. Without his vote, there is no way Biden can get 51 votes needed in the Senate to get it passed. House progressives refuse to support the infrastructure bill without this spending package. So, will Biden be able to get anything done?
At this point, we really doubt it.
Author: Alex Sanderson
