WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 03: Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) leaves the U.S. Capitol following a vote on August 03, 2021 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) is splitting with his party over excessive spending. On Thursday, Manchin published an op-ed saying he wanted to put a “strategic pause” on the $3.5 trillion spending bill.
The moderate senator said Congress’ appetite for spending huge sums of money would have negative consequences for the future. Manchin is a key vote and without his support, Democrats will be hard pressed to pass anything in the Senate without bipartisan support.
Instead of rushing to spend trillions on new government programs and additional stimulus funding, Congress should hit a strategic pause on the budget-reconciliation legislation. Read my op-ed in @WSJopinion: https://t.co/hlkIpfwVd8
— Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) September 2, 2021
“A pause is warranted because it will provide more clarity on the trajectory of the pandemic, and it will allow us to determine whether inflation is transitory or not,” said Manchin.
Manchin said that he has always been committed to not voting for something in which he can’t explain, and the budget-reconciliation legislation is something he can’t explain.
“I have always said if I can’t explain it, I can’t vote for it, and I can’t explain why my Democratic colleagues are rushing to spend $3.5 trillion.”
The large spending bill would include funding to combat climate change, contribute to paid family and medical leave and expanding the child tax credit, calling for massive tax hikes on corporations and high-income earners.
Source: One America News Network
