Manchin blasts House Democrats, potentially pressing pause on Biden agenda

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., says he cannot yet support the Build Back Better budget deal containing much of President Biden’s domestic agenda and told House progressives to stop holding up a bipartisan infrastructure deal.

Speaking on Capitol Hill Monday, Manchin said he could not fully endorse the framework of the Build Back Better plan released by the White House last week until its potential effects on the deficit, inflation and the tax code are studied further. Manchin and Sen. KyrstenSinema, D-Ariz., have been at odds with the rest of their party — including the White House, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — over the size, scale and process of the deal.