The reconciliation bill, the centerpiece of Biden's Build Back Better agenda, remains in limbo. The primary hurdle is the opposition to the bill, as originally conceived, by two Democratic Senators, Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ). While Sinema has kept her basis for opposition close to the vest, Manchin has made his views known through the press. Here are three core positions held by Manchin, according to reports:
Judd, you were terrific on Chris Hayes last night. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 I hope they'll bring you back to talk about how West Virginians will lose out if Joe Mansion has his way with the reconciliation package. And I hope Chuck Schumer reads Popular Information! Thank you.
So sorry to have missed it. But I’m so thankful for your work.
We have problems with politicians not paying attention to the majority of people because of money in politics. My concern going forward is the desperation of republicans and what they will do to subvert the will of the people. Climate change is for the benefit of the entire world. We get all medicines from China, so if people don’t think other countries matter, they should think about pollution affecting plant sources that we eat from across the world.
The reconciliation package shouldn’t be watered down. We need to turn this around in a big way, not in spurts. Never thought the few Dems would be as big a source of frustration as the frighteningly lawless republicans.
How can we from states who don't vote for or against Manchin but resent the hell out of his "controlling" the whole senate by his lack of support of Democratic measures - how can WE make our voices heard in anger and protest? Any thoughts?
Kudos on the Hayes coverage! And thanks for a heart wrenching, convincing column today - I only hope that WV voters are on this list and are storming (politely of course) Manchin’s offices/phone lines with objections and electoral threats. He has to go.
Thanks for this article. Perhaps I don't watch enough TV but this is the first I have seen of any news program talking about dark money in politics. Newscasters talk about West Virginia being a coal capitol of the country; but I have heard nothing about Joe Manchin's ownership of a coal company with his son at the helm. Why does no one talk about that?!
Manchin is just one part of the cesspool that is WV's political system, the main reason my husband and I left the state in 2008. I had lived there since 1992 (hubs was a WV native). WV is gorgeous, but its citizens keep electing buffoons who care only about their own power and financial interests which results in stagnation and decline for most folks.
My Joe Manchin story: In the early aughts, I made dinner for Manchin + other WV elites at a retreat in Randolph County. Joe caught trout from the resort’s stocked ponds & I used them as the main. The trout had lovely roe so I made an appetizer from it. When I served the app, Joe nearly turned green and refused to eat it. After I briefly explained the dish, it became clear to me that he didn’t know that caviar was fish roe. It's difficult to imagine someone being the governor of a state (and allegedly an avid fisherman) and not know that basic fact. Based on overheard conversations that weekend & at a few other events, Manchin seemed to me to be...not terribly bright. From my personal observations, he cares about nothing but money and power and how he and his family can benefit.
It has been proven agains and again that politicians do not represent their population but their donors.
Until a system (media, funding, electing) changes no amount of analysis or shaming changes that anti-democractic fact.
The question is what can really change it?
Until something fundamental changes, Manchin obviously has no problem working against the interests of the people who elected him.
So great that you got on MSNBC!
Judd, you were terrific on Chris Hayes last night. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 I hope they'll bring you back to talk about how West Virginians will lose out if Joe Mansion has his way with the reconciliation package. And I hope Chuck Schumer reads Popular Information! Thank you.
So sorry to have missed it. But I’m so thankful for your work.
We have problems with politicians not paying attention to the majority of people because of money in politics. My concern going forward is the desperation of republicans and what they will do to subvert the will of the people. Climate change is for the benefit of the entire world. We get all medicines from China, so if people don’t think other countries matter, they should think about pollution affecting plant sources that we eat from across the world.
The reconciliation package shouldn’t be watered down. We need to turn this around in a big way, not in spurts. Never thought the few Dems would be as big a source of frustration as the frighteningly lawless republicans.
Really great pieces of useful information. Thank you!
How can we from states who don't vote for or against Manchin but resent the hell out of his "controlling" the whole senate by his lack of support of Democratic measures - how can WE make our voices heard in anger and protest? Any thoughts?
Kudos on the Hayes coverage! And thanks for a heart wrenching, convincing column today - I only hope that WV voters are on this list and are storming (politely of course) Manchin’s offices/phone lines with objections and electoral threats. He has to go.
Thanks for this article. Perhaps I don't watch enough TV but this is the first I have seen of any news program talking about dark money in politics. Newscasters talk about West Virginia being a coal capitol of the country; but I have heard nothing about Joe Manchin's ownership of a coal company with his son at the helm. Why does no one talk about that?!
Manchin is just one part of the cesspool that is WV's political system, the main reason my husband and I left the state in 2008. I had lived there since 1992 (hubs was a WV native). WV is gorgeous, but its citizens keep electing buffoons who care only about their own power and financial interests which results in stagnation and decline for most folks.
My Joe Manchin story: In the early aughts, I made dinner for Manchin + other WV elites at a retreat in Randolph County. Joe caught trout from the resort’s stocked ponds & I used them as the main. The trout had lovely roe so I made an appetizer from it. When I served the app, Joe nearly turned green and refused to eat it. After I briefly explained the dish, it became clear to me that he didn’t know that caviar was fish roe. It's difficult to imagine someone being the governor of a state (and allegedly an avid fisherman) and not know that basic fact. Based on overheard conversations that weekend & at a few other events, Manchin seemed to me to be...not terribly bright. From my personal observations, he cares about nothing but money and power and how he and his family can benefit.