House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) believes that Democrats’ roughly $2 trillion Build Back Better Act will pass, despite it currently lacking Sen. Joe Manchin’s (D-W. Va.) support.
During an event in San Fransisco, California, on Monday, Pelosi said, “Well, we never give up…This will happen, it must happen, and we will do it as soon as we can. There are conversations that are ongoing, but we cannot walk away from this commitment.”
“I have confidence that Sen. Manchin cares about our country and that at some point very soon, we can take up the legislation. I am not deterred at all,” she added.
“I have confidence that sen manchin cares about our country and that at some point very soon we can take up the legislation. I am not deterred at all."
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) December 20, 2021
During an appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” Manchin said, “I cannot vote to continue with this piece of legislation, I just can’t. I tried everything humanly possible. I can’t get there.”
“This is a no, on this legislation,” he added.
And in a separate statement, he said, “I have always said, ‘If I can’t go back home and explain it, I can’t vote for it.’ 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.”
The West Virginia senator once again reiterated his concerns that the bill would add to the deficit and that Democrats are trying to “camouflage the real cost of the intent behind this bill.”
“I cannot take that risk with a staggering debt of more than $29 trillion and inflation taxes that are real and harmful to every hard-working American at the gasoline pumps, grocery stores, and utility bills with no end in sight,” he added.
Democrats were hoping to use a process known as budget reconciliation to pass the bill, which would have required all 50 Democrats to vote for it with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote.’
Without Manchin’s vote, the bill would fail to pass the chamber.