“Moderate” Democrat Senator Joe Manchin agrees with Schumer’s tax and spending package after initial refusal to back it

West Virginia’s US Senator, Joe Manchin, has flipped back and forth several times now on whether he will support the Democrats’ massive spending package which Republicans are labeling the “Build Back Broke” plan.

The spending bill, ironically titled the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022,” contains a 15% minimum tax on large companies valued at $1 billion or more, as well as investment into energy–nuclear, renewable, and fossil fuels.

“I now propose and will vote for the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Rather than risking more inflation with trillions in new spending, this bill will cut the inflation taxes Americans are paying, lower the cost of health insurance and prescription drugs, and ensure our country invests in the energy security and climate change solutions,” Manchin stated. “President Biden, Leader Schumer and Speaker Pelosi have committed to advancing a suite of commonsense permitting reforms this fall.”

Prior to this most recent flip, Manchin was adamant that he refused to endorse and vote for any bill with provisions for the climate and energy.

However, another provision which Manchin required was a reduction to prescription pill costs. This one, he appears to have secured.

Manchin’s vote is crucial in securing the passage of the budget reconciliation bill, and without him Democrats would be able to accomplish nothing prior to the midterms.

What this new bill means is more government spending and higher taxes, generally the opposite of what one wants to see when trying to lower inflation.

But not even the “moderate” Democrats like Senator Manchin really seem to care about details like that.