Joe Manchin says there is ‘no circumstance’ in which he would back weakening the filibuster

[lennygoran]

Me no like. Regards, Len

Joe Manchin says there is ‘no circumstance’ in which he would back weakening the filibuster.



By Emily Cochrane

April 7, 2021

Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, a key moderate Democrat, on Wednesday reaffirmed his vow to protect the filibuster in the evenly divided Senate and suggested reluctance to his party repeatedly using a fast-track budget process to advance legislation without Republican votes.

Mr. Manchin has long been one of the most stalwart defenders of the 60-vote threshold needed to end debate in the upper chamber, even as it threatens to derail key elements of President Biden’s agenda. Despite previously toying with possible reforms to the procedural hurdle, he has repeatedly swatted away queries about what could drive him to vote to outright abolish the filibuster, even as Democrats have gamed out various scenarios in which he might relent.

In an opinion piece published in The Washington Post, Mr. Manchin vowed that there was “no circumstance in which I will vote to eliminate or weaken the filibuster,” and he urged party leaders to compromise on legislation instead of trying to work around Republican opposition. Ten Republicans are currently needed to join all Democrats in a 50-50 Senate to pass major pieces of legislation through the regular process.

The comments took on added significance after a key Senate official on Monday issued guidance that could allow Democrats to pursue the fast-track budget reconciliation process at least one more time before the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, after they used it to pass Mr. Biden’s nearly $1.9 trillion pandemic relief law without any Republican votes.

“We will not solve our nation’s problems in one Congress if we seek only partisan solutions,” Mr. Manchin wrote. “Instead of fixating on eliminating the filibuster or shortcutting the legislative process through budget reconciliation, it is time we do our jobs.”

Pressure has mounted for Democrats to further push the boundaries of what a majority party can do unilaterally when in control of both chambers of Congress and the White House, in order to deliver on a series of campaign promises. While Democrats do not yet have the votes to abolish the filibuster, they have explored other avenues to ensure Mr. Biden’s agenda becomes law.


In recent days, that has included expanding the frequency of reconciliation, which allows certain budgetary legislation to clear both chambers on a simple majority vote. While Elizabeth MacDonough, the Senate parliamentarian, appears to have agreed with the Democratic argument that they can use the process multiple times in one fiscal year, it remains unclear how and when they might employ those possible opportunities, and for what.

While Mr. Manchin did not outright refuse to support another use of the fast-track reconciliation process, he challenged both parties to work together and compromise on critical pieces of legislation, including infrastructure and tax changes. Any use of reconciliation would require Mr. Manchin — and virtually every congressional Democrat — to remain united behind the legislation.

“Senate Democrats must avoid the temptation to abandon our Republican colleagues on important national issues,” Mr. Manchin wrote. “Republicans, however, have a responsibility to stop saying no, and participate in finding real compromise with Democrats.”


While many questions remain about how Democrats could potentially use another chance at reconciliation, both Mr. Biden and congressional leaders insist they want to work with Republicans to reach compromises, particularly on the sweeping $2 trillion infrastructure proposal the White House just unveiled.

“There are things we’re working on together — some of which we’ve passed and some we will pass,” Mr. Biden said on Wednesday. He suggested a group of 10 Republican senators who sought to compromise on his pandemic relief plan did not do enough to jump start negotiations with their initial $618 billion plan. “If they come forward with a plan that did the bulk of it and it was a billion — three or four, two or three — that allowed me to have pieces of all that was in there, I would have been prepared to compromise, but they didn’t,” he added.

The group of 10 Republican senators later issued a joint statement Wednesday evening arguing that the proposal had been “a first offer to the White House designed to open bipartisan negotiations” that instead had been dismissed “as wholly inadequate in order to justify its go-it-alone strategy.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/07/us/p ... Position=2

[barney]

This guy is a cretin. How often were the Republicans reasonable and prepared to negotiate during the Obama years? Is he incapable of learning? Manchin could be single-handedly responsible for the failure of Biden's agenda, especially HR1.

[maestrob]

This guy is a cretin. How often were the Republicans reasonable and prepared to negotiate during the Obama years? Is he incapable of learning? Manchin could be single-handedly responsible for the failure of Biden's agenda, especially HR1.

Joe Manchin just squeaked by in the last election as a Democrat from a sup-conservative coal-producing state, West Virginia. Voters there admire him because he's gotten things done for them even though he voted to impeach Trump at his second Senate trial. Not so much a cretin, just a political survivor.

He did vote for the popular relief bill. Let's see what happens when push comes to shove. Manchin's no traitor, yet. Public posturing is one thing. Let's see how he votes.

[Rach3]

As with most politicians, his first priority is getting re-elected.He could "hide" among all the Dems on 2nd Impeachment and point to 10 GOP votes as well ( I think West Virginia GOP Gov. Justice also supported 2nd Impeachment ), and knew the Relief Act would be popular in WVA , but this time he seems mainly concerned about raising the corporate tax rate from 21 % to 28% to pay for Biden's infrastructure bill.Manchin wants 23 % ( even though the rate was 28 % until Trump's tax cut ), and may be concerned this time about causing GOP corporate donors to vigorously support an opponent against Manchin who will argue Manchin is a " Socialist "like Biden. The key may be to see if Biden feels he can come down from 28 %.

[maestrob]

As with most politicians, his first priority is getting re-elected.He could "hide" among all the Dems on 2nd Impeachment and point to 10 GOP votes as well ( I think West Virginia GOP Gov. Justice also supported 2nd Impeachment ), and knew the Relief Act would be popular in WVA , but this time he seems mainly concerned about raising the corporate tax rate from 21 % to 28% to pay for Biden's infrastructure bill.Manchin wants 23 % ( even though the rate was 28 % until Trump's tax cut ), and may be concerned this time about causing GOP corporate donors to vigorously support an opponent against Manchin who will argue Manchin is a " Socialist "like Biden. The key may be to see if Biden feels he can come down from 28 %.

Yesterday, Biden indicated a willingness to negotiate on how to pay for the infrastructure bill, so we'll see what happens. As the article you quoted illustrates, during the prosperous 1950's and 1960's corporate tax rates were closer to 50%, and we had much higher living standards than we have today, along with a humming economy with new roads and health insurance AND pensions provided by nearly all corporations. My father bought and furnished a new house, supported his family and a new car, all on a salary of $150-$200/week earned as a department store executive, a solid middle-class income in those days.

Times have certainly changed.

[Rach3]

Sen.Manchin is even worse than I thought:

https://www.yahoo.com/huffpost/joe-manc ... 12253.html

His charade should be called for what it is.

[lennygoran]

Sen.Manchin is even worse than I thought

Even Moscow Mitch has done better! Regards, Len

"There's no question, none, that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day. No question about it," the Kentucky Republican said Saturday. "The people who stormed this building believed they were acting on the wishes and instructions of their president."

"And having that belief was a foreseeable consequence of the growing crescendo of false statements, conspiracy theories and reckless hyperbole which the defeated president kept shouting into the largest megaphone on planet earth," he continued.

McConnell said the deadly riot was the product of "increasingly wild myths" and "an intensifying crescendo of conspiracy theories orchestrated by an outgoing president who seemed determined to either overturn the voters' decision, or else torch our institutions on the way out."

[maestrob]

That may be what Moscow Mitch said on the Senate floor, but he still voted to overturn the election. He also voted to acquit Trump both times in the Senate impeachment trials.

Watch what I do, not what I say.

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/n ... 454794001/

Let's see what Joe Manchin does when it comes time to vote. That op-ed sounds like a smokescreen to me. He's covering his posterior, methinks.

I predict he'll stick with us when push comes to shove. Let's hope I'm right.

[lennygoran]

I predict he'll stick with us when push comes to shove. Let's hope I'm right.

Brian may you only be right! Regards, Len [fingers crossed]

[jserraglio]

The thing is, How many WV Manchin place names will it take to secure that vote?

[lennygoran]

The thing is, How many WV Manchin place names will it take to secure that vote?

Joseph maybe none-heard they'll be lowering the corporation rate to 15%. Regards, Len

[jserraglio]

The thing is, How many WV Manchin place names will it take to secure that vote?

Joseph maybe none-heard they'll be lowering the corporation rate to 15%. Regards, Len

Precedent dictates otherwise.https://www.wikiwand.com/en/List_of_pla ... obert_Byrd

[maestrob]

The thing is, How many WV Manchin place names will it take to secure that vote?

Joseph maybe none-heard they'll be lowering the corporation rate to 15%. Regards, Len

Precedent dictates otherwise.https://www.wikiwand.com/en/List_of_pla ... obert_Byrd

I've heard that Congress is talking about bringing back pork. If that helps HR1, I'm all for it.

[jserraglio]

I've heard that Congress is talking about bringing back pork. If that helps HR1, I'm all for it.

Right on! But can we pls stop short of going whole hog?

[lennygoran]

Precedent dictates otherwise.https://www.wikiwand.com/en/List_of_pla ... obert_Byrd

Thanks, you've renewed my hope! Regards, Len

[barney]

The thing is, How many WV Manchin place names will it take to secure that vote?

Heck, he can have the name of my street in Melbourne, if it secures his vote.

[Rach3]

WAPO op ed today suggests calling Manchin's bluff:

"Instead of trying to make sense of Manchin’s impulsive answers and contradictory statements, the White House should enlist him in this project: Find 10 Republican senators who will support a bill that all 50 Democrats will still support. Manchin obviously has a completely different conception of the GOP than most of the political world. So let him have a crack at it.


I suspect he will discover what 99 other senators and the White House already know. There is no reasonable legislation on immigration or infrastructure (with a plan to pay for it that doesn’t hit middle- and lower-income Americans) that can attract 10 Republican votes.


Were there 50 Democrats who could have supported the puny $650 billion counteroffer that 10 Republicans put forth on the American Rescue Plan? I doubt there were five.

What about a simple reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act, basic protections for early and absentee voting, independent redistricting and paper backups that can be audited? Maybe there are a handful of Republicans who might sign on (assuming you could find Democrats willing to narrow voting rights reform so dramatically).

Manchin has had the luxury of hiding behind the filibuster, avoiding tough votes and posing as the moderate voice of reason. Instead, he should be coaxed from the fog of obfuscation he generates and go find the compromise he insists is there. If not, he should be compelled to tell us if he wants to give up on infrastructure, voting rights and more to preserve the filibuster."

[maestrob]

Good point. I suspect that this is near what is being said to him privately right now, and that Manchin's various statements are meant for public consumption by his West Virginia voters in order to be sure that he stays in office.

I'd be VERY surprised if he refuses to vote for Biden's agenda when it hits the Senate floor.

Unreason can never be persuaded by reason, and I think he knows that already.

Never forget.

[barney]

Yes Steve, and yes Brian.