Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) likened Democrats' .5 trillion spending proposal to "fiscal insanity."

Shannon Longworth Reporter

‘I’ve never been a liberal’: Manchin refuses to support $3.5 trillion bill

Sep 30, 2021

Shannon Longworth Reporter

As pressure builds in Congress and Democrats continue to negotiate the passage of their spending proposal, they face a familiar challenge in courting Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV). Manchin, a conservative Democrat, insists the $3.5 trillion price tag is too high. In a press conference on Capitol Hill Thursday, he said he would be comfortable supporting a $1.5 trillion bill.

“I’ve never been a liberal in any way, shape, or the form,” Manchin said.

In a statement on Wednesday, Manchin explained that he shared major concerns with his Democratic colleagues.

“What I have made clear to the President and Democratic leaders is that spending trillions more on new and expanded government programs, when we can’t even pay for the essential social programs, like Social Security and Medicare, is the definition of fiscal insanity,” Manchin said.

Tags: Joe Biden

LONGWORTH: IF YOU REMEMBER MY JUST ONE NAME ON SENATOR JOE MANCHIN, YOU KNOW HE’S A CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRAT WHO CREATES A WHOLE LOT OF CHALLENGES FOR THE REST OF HIS PARTY IN CONGRESS.

THE LATEST INSTANCE CAME TODAY THURSDAY WHEN HE ADDRESSED THE PRESS ON CAPITOL HILL REGARDING THE DEMOCRATS SPENDING PACKAGE PROPOSAL. HE SAID HE’S WILLING TO GO WITH $1.5 TRILLION, BUT 3.5 TRILLION IS TOO MUCH. THAT’S A PROBLEM FOR THE REST OF HIS PARTY BECAUSE THEY NEED HIM TO PASS THE BILL.

JOE MANCHIN: I’VE NEVER BEEN A LIBERAL IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR THE FORM. NO ONE HAS EVER THOUGHT I WAS. I’VE BEEN GOVERNOR, I’VE BEEN SECRETARY OF STATE, I’VE BEEN IN STATE LEGISLATURE, I’VE BEEN A US SENATOR, AND I HAVE VOTED PRETTY CONSISTENTLY ALL MY WHOLE LIFE.

LONGWORTH: HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT IF HIS PARTY WANTS TO PASS MORE OF THEIR AGENDA, THEY JUST NEED TO ELECT MORE LIBERALS, NOW EARLIER THIS WEEK MENTIONED DID EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHY HE WOULD NOT SUPPORT THE $3.5 TRILLION PRICE TAG. IN A STATEMENT, HIS EXACT WORDS WERE, QUOTE, SPENDING TRILLIONS MORE ON NEW AND EXPANDED GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS, WHEN WE CAN’T EVEN PAY FOR THE ESSENTIAL SOCIAL PROGRAMS LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE IS THE DEFINITION OF FISCAL INSANITY. SO WE’LL JUST HAVE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS AS CONGRESS CONTINUES TO NEGOTIATE ON THAT BILL.