This fucking guy:
West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, whose opposition derailed President Joe Biden’s economic agenda, blamed the White House and the Federal Reserve for failing to head off inflation, which hit a 40-year high.
“The Federal Reserve and the administration failed to act fast enough, and today’s data is a snapshot in time of the consequences being felt across the country,” Manchin said Tuesday in a statement. “Instead of acting boldly, our elected leaders and the Federal Reserve continue to respond with half-measures and rhetorical failures searching for where to lay the blame.”
Labor Department data released Tuesday showed the consumer price index increased 8.5% in March from a year earlier.
Manchin has been raising warnings about rising prices for much of the past year, writing to the Federal Reserve last August, expressing his concerns that its massive bond-buying program, in addition to fiscal stimulus from Congress, could overheat the economy and spark inflation. He also blocked Biden’s massive tax and spending package in the Senate, a plan the administration argues would have helped consumers by cutting costs for health care and childcare.
He also blocked one of President Biden’s nominees for the Federal Reserve because he didn’t like what she had to say regarding climate change and fossil fuels. Him along with fellow traitor, Kyrsten Sinema, have done everything in their power to kill Build Back Better. Him, along with all 50 Senate Republicans, ended the cild tax credit which would’ve also helped with easing the financial burden for millions of families. Now that the Democrats are starting to realize that he can’t be trusted, whether it’s on the budget or voting rights, he’s now deflecting blame. Jennifer Rubin rightfully calls him out:
The White House would love dearly to get one more big win before the midterm elections. A big package to address inflation and reduce the deficit, perhaps. Maybe something on energy or on prescription drug costs. Maybe all three. But there are no votes to be had from Republicans, so that means any such legislation will need to go through the reconciliation process and pull Manchin back on board.
As Politico reports, the White House plans to avoid bad-mouthing Manchin at all costs this time around. (Good idea!) And administration officials don’t want to once again make this the top news story. (Another good idea.) So quietly and informally, they’re laying the groundwork for Manchin to take the lead on legislation.
The White House could let Manchin write such a bill. (Multiple sources confirm that last time around, the White House reworked Build Back Better’s green energy provisions to meet Manchin’s approval.) But even if Manchin were to write it himself, would he stick with it? Could it happen by the summer? Or at least by the time Congress goes home in the fall?
Those are the questions Democrats must be asking after the last pair of legislative debacles. Having watched Manchin operate, they should not bet on him this time. “No” is just so much easier for him.
This asshole has done jack shit to help get inflation under control because he wants to protect his precious coal empire. I have a simple message for Democratic and Independent Voters: Get inflation under control by taking away Joe Manchin’s power. Give the Democrats more than 50 seats so they can get shit done. Click below to donate and get involved with these Democratic incumbents and candidates campaigns:
Arizona
Mark Kelly
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Raphael Warnock
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Catherine Cortez Masto
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Maggie Hassan
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John Fetterman
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Mandela Barnes
Tom Nelson
Alex Lasry
Sarah Godlewski
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Tim Ryan
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Cheri Beasley
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Val Demings
Missouri:
Lucas Kunce