Senator Joe Manchin Commends President Biden for Bipartisan Debt Ceiling Deal
Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) praised President Joe Biden for his efforts in brokering a bipartisan debt ceiling deal, while also stating that progressive forces are pushing him to the left. In an interview with Meet the Press, Manchin acknowledged that Biden’s natural inclination is towards working in the middle ground, and that the far left or far right are not reflective of the country’s current standing.
On Saturday, Biden signed the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which postponed the debt ceiling until January 2025 in exchange for several spending growth reductions. Manchin applauded both parties for their work on the agreement, which averted the possibility of default. The government was projected to run out of money to pay its bills as early as June 5.
Manchin has increasingly criticized Biden’s implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act in recent weeks, as well as his initial refusal to discuss the debt ceiling negotiations with the GOP. The senator has mentioned the possibility of running for president, emphasizing the importance of bipartisanship.
When asked about whether the possibility of Biden moving towards the middle would affect his likelihood of running for president, Manchin declined to comment. He instead emphasized the need to stay in the center and bring people back towards the middle, instead of being pushed to the political extremes.
Challenging Campaign Ahead for Manchin
If he chooses to run for re-election as a senator, Manchin is expected to face a fierce challenge from Governor Jim Justice (R-WV), who has outpolled him in several surveys. Despite this, Manchin has stated that he will win any race he enters.
End note:
The Washington Examiner covered the story in this article.
Original Story at www.washingtonexaminer.com – 2023-06-04 14:12:00
