Manchin calls for vote on bipartisan infrastructure bill

Sen. Joe Manchin, (D) West Virginia: “In all my years of public service, and I’ve been around for a long time. I’ve never seen anything like this. The President of the United States has addressed the House Democratic caucus twice recently, to urge action on the bipartisan infrastructure bill, which sometimes we refer to as the BIF bill. Last week, the speaker urged, Speaker Pelosi urged the importance of voting and passing the BIF bill before the president took the world stage overseas and still no action. In my view, this is not how the United States Congress should operate, or, in my view, has operated in the past. The political games have to stop.”

“It is time to vote on the BIF bill up or down and then go home and explain to your constituents the decision you made. And I’ve always said, if I can’t go home and explain it, I can’t vote for it and if I can, I will. I’ve worked in good faith for three months for the past three months with President Biden, Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi and my colleagues on the reconciliation bill and I will continue to do so. For the sake of the country, I urge the House to vote and pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Holding this bill hostage is not going to work in getting my support for a reconciliation bill.”

“Simply put, I will not support a bill that is this consequential without thoroughly understanding the impact that it will have on our national debt, our economy and most importantly, all of our American people.”

“However, as more of the real details outline, the basic framework are released, what I see are shell games, budget gimmicks that make the real cost of the so-called $1.75 trillion dollar bill, estimated to be almost twice that amount if the full time is run out, if you extended it permanently and that we haven’t even spoken about. This is a recipe for economic crisis. None of us should ever misrepresent to the American people what the real cost of legislation is. While I’ve worked hard to find a path to compromise, it’s obvious compromise is not good enough for a lot of my colleagues in Congress. It’s all or nothing, and their position doesn’t seem to change unless we agree to everything. Enough is enough.”

“I’m open to supporting a final bill that helps move our country forward. But I’m equally open to voting against a bill that hurts our country. And I’ve been very clear about that also.”

“So let me just say, let me say, let me just say, let me say, let me say one thing. I’m not going to negotiate in public on this because I’ve been dealing in good faith and I will continue to deal in good faith with all of my colleagues on both sides. It’s time to pass a bill and quit playing games.”