Manchin rejects climate, tax elements of party-line Dem bill

Joe Manchin on Thursday rejected Senate Democrats’ proposed energy and climate investments, as well as their goals of increasing taxes on the wealthy and large corporations, according to a Democrat briefed on the discussions.

Instead the West Virginia senator said “unequivocally” during a meeting with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer that he will only support reducing drug prices and a two-year extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies as components of a party-line bill designed to evade a filibuster, the person said.

Manchin’s rejection at the meeting, first reported by the Washington Post, blew up weeks of discussions over a larger legislative package. It leaves just a slim health-care focused bill as an option for Democrats who have long hoped to send far more expansive legislation to President Joe Biden’s back before the midterms.