Joe Manchin’s Office Denies Claims of Reconciliation Deal

Sen. Joe Manchin’s (D-VW) office on Thursday, ahead of when the House is supposed to vote on the “bipartisan” infrastructure bill, denies the reports that claim a deal has been made with the senator on a path to a reconciliation package deal.

A spokesperson from the senator’s office told Politico, “There isn’t any agreement, Manchin stands by his statement yesterday and reports of a number are completely inaccurate. He’ll continue to work in good faith.”

The spokesperson is reportedly speaking about a segment from MSNBC’s Morning Joe about claims {that a} deal has been struck with the senator.  

Manchin released a statement Wednesday afternoon saying the current spending plans are “fiscal insanity.”

“While I’m hopeful that common ground may be found that will end in another historic investment in our nation, I can’t – and won’t – support trillions in spending or an all or nothing approach that ignores the brutal fiscal reality our nation faces,” he mentioned in his statement.

His statement added, “There’s a better way and I believe we will find it if we’re prepared to continue to negotiate in good faith.”

He noted that he has made it clear to President Joe Biden and top Democrat leaders that “spending trillions more on new and expanded government programs, when we can’t even pay for the essential social programs, like Social Security and Medicare, is the definition of fiscal insanity.”

AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB