U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with the White House Covid-19 Response Team in the Roosevelt Room of the White House December 16, 2021 in Washington, DC.
Drew Angerer | beautiful pictures
US President Joe Biden on Thursday appeared to concede that his Better Back Construction spending bill may not pass Congress for the rest of the year, saying Democrats will find how to promote the law “in the days and weeks to come.”
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has set a Christmas deadline to pass a $1.75 trillion climate change and social spending bill, but negotiations have been slow. again.
Biden negotiated with moderate Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, who refused to support the bill, making him a key vote in the equally divided room.
“I am confident we will bridge our differences and advance the Build Back Better plan, even in the face of stiff Republican opposition,” Biden said in a statement.
He said Manchin has reiterated his support for the overall cost of the bill. He said negotiations were continuing but needed more time.
A source familiar with their conversations said negotiations between Biden and Manchin were not going well as the two were “far apart” over the content of a bill.
“It will take time to finalize these agreements, prepare the legislative changes, and complete all of the procedural and congressional steps necessary to enable a vote in the Senate,” Biden said in a statement. its statement.
The bill passed the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives but faced a tougher tagline in the Senate.
Manchin is being increasingly supported by Democrats for his position. They accused him of keeping Democratic priorities.
Manchin dismissed the criticism.
“Nobody pressured me, I’m from West Virginia,” Manchin told CNN.
Biden said he has spoken with Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi about his most recent discussions with Manchin and that he believes Manchin supports the funding plan.
He said negotiations with Manchin would continue next week.
