Democrats hope Biden can return Manchin and Sinema

President BidenJoe BidenNewsom Easily Pushes Recall Efforts in California Second Senior Official Leaving DHS in One Week Top Republican: General Told Senators He Opposes Withdrawal From Afghanistan MORE met face to face with Sens. Joe manchinJoe ManchinOvernight Energy & Environment – Brought to you by Climate Power – Democratic Leaders Promise Climate Action Amid Manchin-McConnell Divide Meet Amid New Voting Rights Campaign Overnight Hillicon Valley – Former Intelligence Officers Americans pay to pay hacking fees PLUS (DW.Va.) and Kyrsten CinemaKyrsten Sinema Supporters of new voting rights bill push for swift passage Schumer urges Democrats to unite amid divisions over Biden’s spending plan. (D-Arizona) on Wednesday, stepping up its involvement in efforts to unify Congressional Democrats behind a $ 3.5 trillion spending program.

Democratic lawmakers hail Biden’s personal attention as a game-changing development at a critical time.

“Those who negotiate publicly, I think it’s fair to say, these are the hardest votes to get,” Sen said. Tim kaineTimothy (Tim) Michael Kaine Republican Top: The general told senators he opposes the withdrawal from Afghanistan Senate supporters of the new voting rights bill are pushing for swift passage The Hill’s 12: 30 Report – Brought to you by Facebook – Polls open in California as Newsom fights for work MORE (D-Va.) Said of Manchin and Sinema.

“This is really important for the Biden administration, and so everything is on the bridge,” he added of the efforts to get the two dissenters to support the reconciliation plan.

Kaine noted that Biden “has a strong personal relationship with Manchin.”

“Joe and Kyrsten really want [Biden] be a successful president. (A) It’s good for the country. (B) It’s good for their states. (C) It’s good for their own politics, ”Kaine added.

While the White House has been involved in negotiations with the Senate Majority Leader Charles schumerChuck SchumerOvernight Energy & Environment – Brought to you by Climate Power – Democratic leaders pledge climate action amid division Biden expresses climate confidence in renewable energy visit Home is not an easy road for Biden, Democrats on the .5T PLUS package (DN.Y.) and speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiOvernight On The Money – Presented by Wells Fargo – GOP Senator: It’s “silly” to buy Treasuries (D-Calif.) On the size and scope of the spending envelope, Biden’s recent public appearances have focused more on the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, the increase in COVID-19 cases, and the fires forest and flooding in various parts of the country.

White House press secretary Jen psakiJen Psaki Biden to welcome ‘Quad’ alliance leaders to White House Biden enters legal battle over vaccine warrants ATF candidate’s fall is just the latest defeat for gun control advocates to fire PLUS said on Wednesday the president knew the Manchin and Sinema meetings were just the start of negotiations with moderate Democrats.

“The president certainly thinks there will be discussions going on, not that there will necessarily be a conclusion of them today,” she told reporters at the White House.

John LaBombard, spokesperson for Sinema, called Wednesday’s meeting “productive.”

“Kyrsten continues to work in good faith with his colleagues and President Biden as this legislation develops,” he said.

Biden, who spent decades in the Senate before becoming vice president, met separately with each senator in an apparent effort to maximize the effect of his personal involvement.

He sat down with Sinema around 10 a.m. and met Manchin a few hours later.

Manchin was seen entering the White House at 5:30 p.m., wearing a blue blazer, gray pants and rubber-soled boat shoes.

Prospects of spending the entire $ 3.5 trillion human infrastructure package have suffered several setbacks in recent weeks, in large part due to Manchin and Sinema.

Both senators raised red flags over the price of the bill, and Manchin criticized specific provisions such as the Clean Electricity Performance Program, which would provide $ 150 billion to divert electricity utilities from coal to fuel sources. ‘renewable energy.

Manchin called for a “strategic pause” on the bill in a Wall Street Journal editorial with the headline “Why I Won’t Support the $ 3.5 trillion Extra Spending.”

“Ignoring the tax consequences of our political choices will create a dire future for the next generation of Americans,” he warned.

Sinema also threatened to vote against a $ 3.5 trillion spending bill, despite pledging to “work in good faith to develop this legislation with my colleagues and the administration.”

Across the Capitol, Democrats took a heavy blow with the drafting of their reconciliation bill on Wednesday when three Democrats from the House Energy and Commerce Committee – Reps. Kurt schraderWalter (Kurt) Kurt SchraderOvernight Health Care – Nicki Minaj stirs uproar over vaccines Overnight Energy & Environment – Presented by Climate Power – Democratic leaders pledge climate action amid division Moderate House Democrats threaten price bill drugs in the PLUS Chamber panel (Ore.), Scott petersScott H. PetersOvernight Health Care – Nicki Minaj stirs uproar over vaccines (California) and Kathleen RiceKathleen Maura RiceOvernight Health Care – Nicki Minaj stirs uproar over vaccines (NY) – voted against legislation to lower drug prices, which Democratic leaders are counting on as a key payment in the bigger package.

Separately, Rep. Stephanie MurphyStephanie Murphy This week: Democrats launch chaotic fall with Biden agenda at stake Democrats brace for battle over Biden 500 billion spending plan (D-Fla.) Sided with the Republicans in the House Ways and Means Committee vote on Wednesday to move that group’s part of the reconciliation package forward, citing concerns about the tax provisions.

Manchin reiterated his concerns over the massive reconciliation bill during a Senate Democratic caucus lunch on Tuesday. The remarks, however, fell flat with colleagues.

“We are frustrated with Manchin,” said a Democratic senator who attended the meeting. “It’s not like the president avoided it. He has already contacted Manchin. No one has received more attention from the White House.

Lawmakers said Manchin echoed some of the arguments he made in The Wall Street Journal and in appearances on CNN’s “State of the Union” and NBC’s “Meet the Press” over the weekend.

“The $ 64,000 question is, what’s his endgame?” We don’t know, ”the lawmaker said. “Part of what Biden is trying to figure out is, where does Manchin want to go?”

On Tuesday, Manchin questioned the need to spend $ 150 billion to wean power plants off coal when there are already many incentives for the private sector to do so.

“Why should we pay utilities to do what they’re already doing? We are in transition. Fifty percent of our electricity came from coal in the year 2000. Twenty years later, [it’s] 19 percent, ”he told reporters.

Manchin also said he was concerned about the reliability of relying entirely on renewable energy sources.

Senate Democrats have become frustrated with what they see as Manchin’s “vague” demands on what the reconciliation bill should look like.

They also didn’t appreciate the double-edged criticisms in his Wall Street Journal op-ed that caught them off guard during the August vacation.

“I was on a [congressional delegation trip] abroad with several colleagues when we read the editorial, and we were appalled, ”said another Democratic senator, who requested anonymity to discuss the internal dynamics of the Democratic caucus.

Manchin said his fellow Democrats were “rushing” to spend an additional $ 3.5 trillion without fully understanding the potential ramifications of their actions. He warned that the bill could leave the federal government strapped for resources to respond to the pandemic if it worsens due to viral mutations or if there is another financial crisis like the Great Recession.

While some Democratic strategists have complained privately that Biden has not made more of a public selling point on behalf of his human infrastructure proposal, Democratic senators say they are happy the president let the talks take place at Capitol Hill without much interference.

Kaine said “it’s really important” that Biden now gets personally involved in trying to persuade Manchin and Sinema to join the reconciliation bill.

“There is a time when you get involved, and now is that time,” he said.

Kaine said Biden’s intervention in negotiations on the bipartisan $ 1,000 billion infrastructure bill that was passed by the Senate last month was “very critical” to keeping him on track.

Senate majority whip Dick durbinDick Durbin Senators denounce protest outside Judge Kavanaugh Schumer’s home urging Democrats to unite amid divisions over Biden’s spending plan. (D-Ill.) Said Wednesday he hopes Biden’s personal involvement will make a difference with Manchin and Sinema.

“This conversation is important,” he said.

Alex Gangitano contributed.