In a lengthy statement following his announcement, Manchin said that he’s been meeting with Biden, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), among others, to come to an agreement.
“I have made my concerns clear through public statements, op-eds and private conversations,” his statement reads. “My concerns have only increased as the pandemic surges on, inflation rises and geopolitical uncertainty increases around the world.”
Following Manchin’s comments, progressive Democrats and self-described socialists criticized the West Virginia senator, considered by many to be the most conservative Democrat in the upper chamber.
“I think he’s going to have a lot of explaining to do to the people of West Virginia,” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a self-described democratic socialist, told CNN on Sunday. “I hope that we will bring a strong bill to the floor of the Senate as soon as we can,” he added.
And Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) sharply criticized Manchin during an interview on Sunday.
“[Manchin] has continued to move the goalposts, he has never negotiated in good faith. and he is obstructing the President’s agenda … 85 percent of which is still left on the table. And in obstructing the president’s agenda, he is obstructing the people’s agenda,” Pressley asserted.
The Epoch Times has contacted the White House for comment.
From The Epoch Times
