White House to Resume Private Negotiations with Sen. Manchin on Build Back Better

The White House is gearing up to restart negotiations with Senator Joe Manchin in a bid to salvage President Joe Biden’s agenda after the West Virginia Democrat dealt a major blow to the Build Back Better economic policy bill last month.

In a surprising move, Manchin announced in December that he could not support the current version of the bill, citing concerns about issues such as the expanded monthly child tax credit and inflation. This decision caught his Democratic colleagues and the White House off guard, as they had been hoping to pass the package in 2021.

White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain revealed to The Wall Street Journal that negotiations with Manchin will now be conducted directly and privately, in an effort to avoid the public scrutiny that may have contributed to the breakdown in talks previously.

Despite the setback, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has vowed to push forward with the Build Back Better legislation early this year. However, the bill’s passage hinges on securing Manchin’s support, as it requires 50 votes and is likely to face unanimous Republican opposition.

While Manchin has expressed concerns about certain aspects of the bill, such as the child tax credit and paid leave provisions, he has indicated a willingness to resume conversations if certain conditions are met. Democrats are hopeful that they can find common ground with Manchin on issues like climate change, which he has signaled a willingness to support.

As negotiations resume behind closed doors, the fate of the Build Back Better bill remains uncertain. Democrats are eager to secure Manchin’s support and deliver on their promises of new social benefits for Americans, but the road ahead is likely to be challenging. Stay tuned for updates as the story unfolds.