This isn’t it, though. Later, Manchin explained that Biden’s favored $3.5 trillion spending legislation is “fiscal insanity” that would furthermore engender an “entitlement mentality” in the United States.
Shortly thereafter, the Democrat lawmaker expressed some modifications he’d like to see made. Manchin’s view is that the bill needs to be much smaller and contain significantly fewer tax increases on the American people.
It also goes without saying congressional Republicans remain strongly opposed to the spending bill Democrats want passed.
Do not pass go, do not collect $200
Currently, the Senate is split 50/50 amongst Democrat and Republican lawmakers. Therefore, if Democrats want to get things done and bypass a Republican filibuster, they need every single senator in their party to vote accordingly.
Democrats do not have these votes. No Republican senators are voting for the bill and neither is Manchin. If Democrats had all 50 senators on board and all 50 Republicans opposed, they could call in Vice President Harris to break the tie.
