Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) says Republicans give Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) “lots of love” as the Senate prepares to tackle a $3.5 trillion spending bill.
During an event in Kentucky on Wednesday, McConnell said, “Either one of them could kill the whole bill, I don’t expect that to happen. Either one of them could make dramatic changes in it, that could happen. Or either one of them could basically make a few cosmetic changes and throw in the towel.”
“We’re down to two who are resisting: Joe Manchin from West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema from Arizona. I pray for them every night. I wish them well. We give them lots of love,” he added.
MCCONNELL on the $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill: "We're down to two who are resisting: Joe Manchin from West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema from Arizona. I pray for them every night. I wish them well. We give them lots of love."
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) September 8, 2021
The Kentucky senator’s comments come as the Senate is preparing to take up a $3.5 trillion spending bill.
Democrats are looking to use a process known as budget reconciliation, which would be immune from a Republican filibuster, to pass the spending bill and let them pass the legislation with just 51 votes.
In order for Democrats to get the spending bill across the finish line in the Senate, all 50 Democratic senators would have to vote for it, and Vice President Kamala Harris would have to cast the tie-breaking.
However, Sinema and Manchin have both expressed opposition to a spending bill with a $3.5 trillion price tag.
But voting against the spending bill, or making drastic changes to it, could imperil a smaller bipartisan infrastructure bill.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said in July, “We have made the stand and we said, ‘We will tank the bipartisan infrastructure bill unless we also pass the reconciliation bill.’”
“And so it goes both ways right? If Manchin and in the Senate, if they approve our reconciliation bill, we will approve their bipartisan bill. And if they try to strip immigration reform, if they try to claw back on childcare, climate action, etc., then we’re at an impasse. It’s a no-go,” she added.