‘Squad Member’ Calls Manchin’s Lack of Support for Spending Bill ‘Anti-Black’

Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) criticized Sen. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) for his opposition to President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better Act, saying she does not “trust his assessment of what our communities need the most.”

In a statement issued Monday, Bush argued, “👤Joe Manchin does not get to dictate the future of our country.”

She added, “I trust the parents in my district who can’t get to their shift without childcare. I trust the scientists who have shown us what our future will look like if we fail to meaningfully address the climate crisis. I trust the patients and doctors crying out for comprehensive health coverage for every person in America.”

Bush claimed Manchin’s opposition to the legislation is “anti-Black, anti-child, anti-woman, and anti-immigrant.”

She explained, “When we talk about transformative change, we are talking about a bill that will benefit Black, brown, and Indigenous communities. Those same communities are overwhelmingly excluded from the bipartisan infrastructure bill. We cannot leave anyone behind.”

Bush — a member of the House “Squad” — stressed Manchin “must support the Build Back Better Act.”

During a press conference Monday, Manchin encouraged House Democrats to pass the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill separate from the spending bill, as IJR reported.

“In all my years in public service, I’ve been around for a long time, I’ve never seen anything like this. The president of the United States has addressed the House Democratic caucus twice recently to urge action on the bipartisan infrastructure bill, which is sometimes referred to as the BIF bill,” Manchin said.

He continued, “Last week, Speaker Pelosi urged the importance of voting and passing the BIF bill before the president took the world stage overseas, and still no action.”

The senator suggested “the political games have to stop,” adding, “Twice now, the House has balked at the opportunity to send the BIF legislation to the president.”

Manchin made it clear holding this bill “hostage” is not going to work in getting his support for the spending package. He said he would not support “the reconciliation legislation without knowing how the bill would impact our debt and our economy and our country.”

The White House later responded to Manchin’s remarks.

“Senator Manchin says he is prepared to support a Build Back Better plan that combats inflation, is fiscally responsible, and will create jobs. The plan the House is finalizing meets those tests—it is fully paid for, will reduce the deficit, and brings down costs for health care, child care, elder care, and housing,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psakisaid.

She added, “Experts agree: Seventeen Nobel Prize-winning economists have said it will reduce inflation. As a result, we remain confident that the plan will gain Senator Manchin’s support.”

The president announced the framework for the $1.75 trillion bill last week, as IJR reported.