Following Sen. Joe Manchin’s rejection of the plan, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) called on President Biden to “take executive action” to deliver his hallmark climate and social policy legislation, which has now stalled in the Senate.
In a Washington Post op-ed, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said, “Taking executive action will also make plain to those who are obstructing Build Back Better that the White House and Democrats will deliver for Americans.”
- According to Jayapal, the caucus will “continue to work toward legislation for Build Back Better, with an emphasis on keeping it as close to the agreed-upon structure as feasible” in an effort to pass Biden’s $1.75 trillion spending proposal.
- “We will shortly unveil our own plan for measures,” she continued, noting that the group’s goals included “reducing costs, safeguarding the health of every family, and demonstrating to the world” that the United States “is serious about our leadership on climate action.”
Take note that in comments to Fox News, Jayapal claimed that Manchin “went back on his word to the president and seemingly killed the bill on national television” in the op-ed.
- As she put it in her letter, “In a town where your word is everything, this was a startling rebuke of his own party’s president,” she said, reiterating remarks she made after Manchin announced his decision.
The broader picture: As Hans Nichols of Axios points out, Manchin possesses unprecedented authority in a Senate that is 50-50.
- After he declared that he would not support the Build Back Better Act, the White House accused him of going back on his word and breaking his promises. However, according to Reuters, the White House has stated that discussions with Manchin’s office “will continue” in the future.
- Biden has pledged that he and Manchin “are going to get something done” in the coming months.
- A request for comment from Axios to Biden and Manchin’s representatives did not receive a response immediately.