Sen. Manchin Says No To Build Back Better Bill

ACROSS AMERICA — Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin said Sunday he couldn’t back the Build Back Better Bill, dealing a blow to President Joe Biden’s signature legislation.

In an appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” Manchin said he’s always had reservations about the legislation and after months of negotiating, he can’t support the bill.

"I cannot vote to continue with this piece of legislation," Manchin said during the program. "I just can't. I have tried everything humanly possible. I can’t get there."

Manchin is a moderate Democrat from West Virginia who was seen as key to Biden’s hopes of passing the $2 trillion social safety net bill. Democrats hold a slim majority in the Senate, and Republicans are united in their opposition to the legislation.

A source familiar with Manchin’s thinking said he told the White House and Democratic leaders before his interview on Fox News, according to NBC News’ Julie Tsirkin.

Biden and Manchin had been in talks about the Build Back Better Bill in recent weeks, with Biden confident Manchin was supportive of a framework for the legislation.

In a statement, Manchin cited ongoing inflation, the omicron variant and rising cost as key factors in his opposition to the bill and accused the legislation of going extremely over budget.

“The American people deserve transparency on the true cost of the Build Back Better Act,” Manchin said in the statement. “The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office determined the cost is upwards of $4.5 trillion, which is more than double what the bill’s ardent supporters have claimed. They continue to camouflage the real cost of the intent behind this bill.”

Manchin's interview and statement in opposition of Build Back Better are "at odds" with conversations he has had with Biden and White House staff, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki released a statement Sunday.

In meetings over the last several weeks and as recent as Tuesday, Manchin agreed to a Build Back Better Bill of the same size as the framework announced by Biden, according to the White House statement.

"The Congressional Budget Office report that the Senator cites analyzed an unfunded extension of Build Back Better," the statement said. "That’s not what the President has proposed, not the bill the Senate would vote on, and not what the President would support. Sen. Manchin knows that: The President has told him that repeatedly, including this week, face to face."

The statement went on to express the White House's intent to convince Manchin to again reverse his position on the bill.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.