They include the largest clean energy investment in U.S. history; It included the huge microchip production of the US and the passage of the Scientific Research Bill. China, major veteran health care measures, and an overhaul of the electoral system designed to prevent another Jan. 6 attempt to overturn the presidential election.
While deeply involved in these negotiations, Mr. Manchin has often voiced “no” within the party, demanding smaller bills and risking uncontrolled inflation, as he describes it as “hell.” was launched. The biggest setback in his dealing with Mr. Biden’s agenda was when he repealed the president’s drastic “Build Back Better” Domestic Policy Act, and Mr. Manchin said the move “put the country in a really difficult position.” saved us from falling into a severe recession.”
It was eventually reborn in a smaller form as Climate, Health and Tax Relief and rebranded as Inflation Reduction Act.
Virginia Democrat Senator Mark Warner said, “I know he irritated some of my colleagues, but he played a very positive role in the negotiations, including the domestic bill cuts. “In retrospect, it was too big. We were basically trying to solve virtually all problems with a single law.”
Warner added: Most economists cited by the administration were wrong. I was wrong — I didn’t expect inflation to be as bad as it is now — and he was on the right track. ”
Manchin concedes that the current trading environment on the Capitol will be “more difficult” than last Congress because Republicans control the House. His vote also doesn’t matter, as the Democrats have a stronger hold with his 51-49 majority rather than his 50-50.
But Republicans and Democrats said Mr. Manchin remained important. Senator Susan Collins of Maine, the top Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee and a Manchin ally, said the centrist group would find a way to make a deal in the current Congress, as it did the past two years. said he wanted. .
“It’s going to take a lot of give and take and negotiation to get people’s businesses done,” Collins said. “And Joe will be front and center.”
