Manchin Gave Schumer a Top-line Number For Spending Bill This Summer

Leah Barkoukis / Townhall Tipsheet

 

Sen. Joe Manchin gave Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer a top-line number of $1.5 trillion for Democrats’ massive spending bill this summer with conditions for his vote.

“Senator Manchin does not guarantee that he will vote for the final reconciliation legislation if it exceeds the conditions outlined in this agreement,” reads the agreement given to Schumer dated July 28, 2021, which was obtained by Politico.

But that top-line figure did not sit well with progressives like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders who believe it’s unreasonable. 

"Uhh, for one year?" Ocasio-Cortez wisecracked, laughing when asked about Manchin's topline number. The New York Democrat argued that there were "a lot of games being played with this number" and stressed that over 10 years, $3.5 trillion is $350 billion per year. Read more and see tweet here.