White House slams Joe Manchin over ‘no support’ to Joe Biden’s Build Back Better Act

The White House on Sunday accused Joe Manchin of going back on his words after the West Virginia Senator said that he would oppose President Joe Biden’s signature Build Back Better Act. Manchin’s comments are at odds with his discussions with the president, press secretary Jen Psaki said. 

Manchin on Fox News had said that he would oppose the roughly $2 trillion plan and had made clear he had reservations about the bill.

Also read: What is Build Back Better Act? How will it affect you?

“I cannot vote to continue with this piece of legislation.”

Slamming the conservative democrat, Psaki said, “Senator Manchin’s comments this morning on Fox are at odds with his discussions this week with the president, with White House staff and with his own public utterances.”

Manchin was criticised by other progressives, including Bernie Sanders. 

Also read: What’s in Joe Biden’s Build Back Better Act for affordable housing?

“Weeks ago, Senator Manchin committed to the president, at his home in Wilmington, to support the Build Back Better framework that the president then announced. Senator Manchin pledged repeatedly to negotiate on finalising that framework ‘in good faith’,” Psaki continued. 

The White House further added that Manchin promised to continue conversations in the days ahead and to work with to reach common ground. 

Also read: Joe Biden acknowledges $2T bill stalled, but vows it will pass

“If his comments on Fox and written statement indicate an end to that effort, they represent a sudden and inexplicable reversal in his position, and a breach of his commitments to the president and [his] colleagues in the House and Senate.”

Joe Biden had vowed to get the bill passed and said he would continue talking to Manchin. 

“… Despite my best efforts, I cannot explain the sweeping Build Back Better act in West Virginia and I cannot vote to move forward on this mammoth piece of legislation,” Manchin had said. 

He cited a report by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office which said that if the bill’s spending increases and tax cuts became permanent, $3tn would be added to its cost.

Rejecting the claim, Psaki said that the White House will continue to press him to see if he will reverse his position yet again, to honor his prior commitments and be true to his word.