Manchin’s Concerns Remain ‘Unresolved’ Amid Final Push to Pass BBB Before Campaign Season

As Democrats scramble to pass a trimmed-down version of the controversial Build Back Better (BBB) social spending package before the end of summer and start of an intense campaign season, Sen. Joe Manchin’s (D-W.Va.) concerns about the package remain “unresolved.”

The push to pass BBB began to get well and truly underway during the summer of 2021. Using the reconciliation process, the bill would be able to pass over the 60-vote filibuster threshold in the Senate and be approved by a simple majority.

However, because Democrats hold the barest possible majority in the Senate, 50 seats plus a one-vote advantage with the assistance of Vice President Kamala Harris’ tie-breaking vote, and because Republicans unilaterally oppose BBB, every Democrat in the upper chamber must be on board with any reconciliation proposal that hopes to pass.

In December, after months of scrambled negotiations with Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Manchin dashed Democrats’ hopes when he said he would not vote for the package amid continued concerns over inflation.

Since then, some Democrats have made efforts behind the scenes to push for a revival of the package. Though Manchin has been loosely involved in these negotiations, they have only recently gained traction, winning the support of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who is now making a desperate push to reach a scaled-down agreement on BBB before the end of summer.

But any such package is far from close to being ready, Manchin spokeswoman Sam Runyon said.

“Suggestions that a reconciliation deal is close are false. Senator Manchin still has serious unresolved concerns and there is a lot of work to be done before it’s conceivable that a deal can be reached he can sign onto,” Runyon said.

A particular focus of Democrats with the package has been on climate policy.

Many Democrats

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