‘No Negotiation Going On’ For Biden’s Spending Bill, Manchin Says

President Joe Biden‘s $1.7 trillion social and climate spending proposal is going nowhere fast.

“I’m really not going to talk about Build Back Better because I think I’ve been very clear on that. There is no negotiation going on at this time,” Sen. Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) said.

The Build Back Better Act is aimed toward education, the climate, health and childcare.

The House passed the bill, but it has stalled in the Senate. Manchin spoke with Biden last month and there has been no movement since. The Senate has been concentrating on election reform, where Manchin again stands in the way of the Democrats’ hope of an expansive reform.

“I’ve talked to Sen. Manchin numerous times during the break,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) said. “I believe the Biden administration will be having discussions with Manchin with his cooperation and participation.”

Manchin is key for the Democrats going into a vote for a filibuster-proof bill.

He said that he thinks the bill is well-intentioned but has made it clear that there will have to be major changes for him to back it. Manchin is concerned about the price of the bill’s proposed child tax credit and paid leave provisions. He has proposed making the bill exclusively about the climate.

“The climate thing is one that we probably could come to an agreement much easier than anything else,” Manchin said.

Although the Senate has been focusing on election reform, Manchin will have to come back to Build Back Better at some point.

“I intend to hold a vote in the Senate on BBB and we’ll keep voting until we get a bill passed. The stakes are high for us to find common ground,” Schumer said.