U.S.Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va. is seen walking past the White House to a meeting in the Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C. on November 18, 2021. (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Moderate Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) has refused to cave to political pressure from progressives.
“The consolation is send me home. I am not going to sell out my soul for this,” said Manchin.
Speaking during an interview on Tuesday, the West Virginia Democrat was asked how he deals with colleagues who seem offended by the values he has held for years. Manchin also weighed in on Joe Biden’s long-awaited $2 trillion Build Back Better bill, which needs his vote in order to pass through the Senate.
Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin explains what he tells colleagues who are upset with his politics, at the #WSJCEOCouncil summit https://t.co/9NpQ8E6e92 pic.twitter.com/LGJYObzgoE
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) December 7, 2021
He didn’t confirm which way he’d vote, but said the likelihood of it making life more expensive for Americans outweighs benefits of its taxpayer funded government programs. However, Manchin did warn from his decades of experiences, once these types of government programs are implemented, the process of removing it is very difficult, even when it becomes obvious it’s hurting Americans.
He said this was especially clear with Obamacare, which he said was nearly impossible to remove even with overwhelming support.
In the meantime, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is aiming to hold a vote by Christmas, however, it’ll need Manchin’s support to reach Biden’s desk.
Source: One America News Network
