The Democrats were disappointed to end the year without passing the climate and social-spending package, but they were confident they would get it done in the new year.
West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin is still holding out on the package.
According to people familiar with the matter, Manchin is willing to revisit negotiations on the agenda if the White House removes the child tax credit payments completely or lowers the income cap for eligible families.
Manchin has held this demand for a long time. The last payment of the child tax credit was made in December but has yet to be renewed because of Manchin's resistance.
Do you think people who make $200,000 and $400,000 should get the child tax credit the same as people who make $50,000, $60,000 or $70,000? Manchin had previously said. The child tax credit phases out faster for individual or joint tax filers at the $200,000 and $400,000 levels, and households making more than those levels each year aren't able to receive the full credit.
Manchin's objections to the monthly payments extend beyond an income cap, he also wanted to institute work requirements to receive the federal benefit and has raised concerns parents would spend the payments on drugs.
Manchin's support is crucial for the economic package because Democrats need 50 votes to pass it. The Washington Post reported that prior to Christmas, Manchin made a pitch to the White House that the child tax credit should not be included.
Chuck Schumer told his Democratic colleagues last month that he will bring the bill to a vote early this year despite Manchin's resistance.
Schumer wrote in a letter that "nearly all of us were disappointed by the decision to delay floor consideration of the Build Back Better Act because Senator Manchin could not come to an agreement with the president." We will not be deterred from continuing to find a way forward.
He said that they simply cannot give up.
