Manchin won't commit to progressives' infrastructure wish list
Fox News
The delicate political balancing act of passing infrastructure legislation through a divided Senate hit a snag Thursday, with Sen. Joe Manchin saying he's not ready to commit to passing a progressive-backed companion bill that could hit $6 trillion in new spending.
The West Virginia Democrat has been working with Republicans on a smaller, bipartisan infrastructure deal they plan to present to the White House Thursday to fund more traditional types of projects, like roads and bridges. But in order to get that narrow package through the Senate, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he'll tie that legislation to a second, much more comprehensive spending package that will only need Democratic support under a process called budget reconciliation. In a 50-50 split Senate, the trick is that all Democrats would have to sign onto the larger package that is being championed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, who chairs the Budget Committee. Sanders, I-Vt., and progressives want a major investment into social safety net programs, including an expansion of Medicare, and want to tax the rich and the wealthiest corporations to pay for it. But if Manchin doesn't get on board, it could sink the two-track plan.More Related News