The Build Back Better Act (BBBA) was a bipartisan bill that would have provided tax incentives and infrastructure funding to rebuild areas affected by natural disasters. It faced criticism from the left for not going far enough, while conservatives balked at its potential to raise taxes.
The “what is in the build back better bill” is a bill that would help rebuild communities after natural disasters. Senator Joe Manchin says he will vote no on the bill.
Manchin has been a vocal opponent of the package, expressing worries about specific measures in the economic bill that would increase the nation’s social safety net and how they would worsen the country’s growing inflation.
“And I’m afraid I won’t be able to vote to keep this bill alive. I’m afraid I won’t be able to. I’ve tried everything I can think of. On “Fox News Sunday,” he declared, “I can’t get there.”” “This legislation receives a no vote. I’ve tried everything I can think of. And the President has put in a lot of effort. He’s been an absolute pleasure to deal with. He is aware of my worries and troubles, as well as the fact that we should all be focusing our attention on the variation, a Covid, that is reappearing in so many different aspects and in so many different ways that it is once again harming our lives.”
Manchin’s support is required for Democrats to pass the bill, which is a $1.9 trillion spending plan focused on expanding the nation’s social safety net, lowering Americans’ childcare and health-care costs, and combating climate change, through a process known as budget reconciliation, which requires only 51 votes to pass.
Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a progressive independent, slammed Manchin for withdrawing his support, saying, “I believe he’s going to have a lot of explaining to do to the people of West Virginia,” and urging Democrats to force a floor vote on the measure to force Manchin to vote no on the record.
“I hope we can get a strong bill to the Senate floor as soon as possible and let Mr. Manchin explain to the people of West Virginia why he doesn’t have the courage to stand up to big special interests,” Sanders said on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday.
“Let him vote no in front of the whole world if he doesn’t have the fortitude to do the right thing for the working folks of West Virginia and America,” Sanders concluded.
According to a person familiar with Manchin’s plans, he informed the White House and Democratic leadership of his decision before making his statement.
Biden privately told advisers this week that he was no longer sure that he could eventually get the West Virginia Democrat on board, according to a source familiar with the conversations. Officials at the White House were taken aback when Manchin told them on Sunday morning that he had already made up his mind.
According to the source, their response was negative. It was “completely unexpected,” according to a senior administration official. Manchin notified the White House that they were the first to learn about the situation and that he had not yet alerted his own staff.
Manchin has previously expressed reservations about the bill, which was approved by the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives last month. Paid family leave, a methane levy on energy companies’ emissions, and a Medicare extension to cover hearing expenses were all areas where he intended to cut the bill. He also wanted some of the clauses in the tax section of the law changed.
The White House has been contacted for comment by CNN.
Additional information has been added to this article.
Bernie Sanders’ political affiliation was erroneously represented in a previous version of this article.
This story was co-authored by CNN’s Lauren Fox, Chandelis Duster, Aaron Pellish, Sarah Fortinsky, Kaitlin Collins, and John Harwood.
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