This week, Sen. Joe Manchin III indicated that he’s prepared to restart negotiations over a climate and social policy bill that could pass the Senate with only Democrats. So is there any hope of progress?
For that to happen, you need two things: First, the West Virginia Democrat must take a firm position. Second, other Democrats, including progressives in the House, have to agree to what he wants.
In a sign of movement, progressives are now signaling a new openness to Manchin’s overture, which suggests there’s a way forward.
In an interview, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), chair of the Congress Progressive Caucus, said progressives are ready to talk to Manchin about his framework, and signaled a deal is possible, with caveats.
“We’re open to that approach,” Jayapal told us.
Jayapal opened the door to a way this could work. A good starting place, she said, would be to agree to specifics on what revenue generators can get Manchin’s support — and can get 50 votes in the Senate — and then talk about what to fund with them. “Let’s come up with the revenue-producing measures,” Jayapal said, and then “look at it from there.”
Manchin told reporters he’s open to a package that includes some corporate tax reforms and higher taxes on top earners that were in the Build Back Better package (which he killed). He’s also open to raising money by allowing the government some ability to negotiate drug prices.
But Manchin also said a chunk of those revenues must be plowed back into deficit reduction, and the remainder put toward something like BBB’s proposals for combating climate change — tax incentives and other measures to encourage manufacture and consumption of alternate energy sources. Manchin insists those programs must be permanent.
Jayapal said progressives would be open to this general framework.
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