President Joe Biden is giving in to Sen. Joe Manchin's demands as the political drama of Joe's plays out.
Manchin, a centrist Democrat from West Virginia, said that he wasn't willing to back a slimmer Democratic climate, health, and tax package before August. He allowed negotiations to continue through September.
On Friday, Manchin suggested he was open to supporting a smaller bill centered on cutting prescription drug prices and extending financial assistance through theAffordable Care Act.
Biden has seen several versions of an ambitious social spending package killed by Manchin. In a statement, Biden said he wants the Senate to pass healthcare subsidies and emphasized executive action.
If Congress takes this action, families will sleep better. The Senate should pass it before the August break and send it to me.
The Democrats were upset by Manchin's opposition to climate measures. It's "infuriating" and "tragic" that Senator Manchin is walking away from taking essential action on climate and clean energy, according to Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota.
Because Democrats have a razor-thin majority, they've been using simple-majority reconciliation to pass bills. As Democrats scramble for their votes, Manchin and Sinema control the future of legislation. It was dead when Manchin said "build back better".
Not much climate action can be taken in Congress right now because of Manchin's absence.
If the Senate won't tackle the climate crisis and strengthen our domestic clean energy industry, I will take strong executive action to create jobs and build a clean energy industry.
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