Joe Manchin: Won’t Support Climate or Tax Provisions in Democrats’ Economic Bill

On Sunday, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia announced that he won’t support the climate or tax provisions in the Democrats’ economic bill. This announcement dealt a significant setback to President Biden’s domestic agenda.

Manchin’s opposition to the climate and tax provisions in the Democrats’ economic bill is expected to complicate the already-difficult task of passing legislation that would significantly reduce carbon emissions over the next decade.

Manchin’s Decision

In a statement, Manchin stated that he opposed the $3.5 trillion spending package, which included funding for a host of Democratic priorities such as health care, child care and preschool, paid family leave, climate policies, housing assistance, and immigration reform.

Manchin cited inflation concerns for his opposition to the bill, stating that the bill’s size and scope could “heighten” “existing inflationary pressures” and make it more difficult for Americans to afford goods and services.

The Climate and Tax Provisions

The climate and tax provisions in the Democrats’ economic bill are two of the many priorities outlined in the package.

  • The climate provisions would invest in clean energy infrastructure and programs to combat climate change.
  • The tax provisions would increase taxes on high-earning Americans to pay for the provisions in the bill.

The climate provisions are a key part of President Biden’s climate agenda, which set the goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The tax provisions, meanwhile, were designed to raise revenue to pay for the Democrats’ economic bill while mitigating the impact on lower- and middle-class families.

What’s Next

Manchin’s decision to oppose the climate and tax provisions in the Democrats’ economic bill is likely to make it more difficult for the bill to pass in the Senate. With Republicans and moderate Democrats also skeptical of the bill’s size and scope, the legislation’s future remains uncertain.

Democrats could potentially revise the bill to meet Manchin’s concerns, but that could also require significant changes to the legislation’s overall framework.

For now, the Democrats’ economic bill remains in limbo as lawmakers continue to negotiate and work towards a compromise.