The bomb burst on Sunday. “I can’t vote for this law,” said Joe Manchin, 74. “I’ve tried everything humanly possible, I just can’t do it.” It was the Democratic Senator’s final no to the “Build Back Better Act”. And thus the end for Joe Biden’s (79) core domestic political project for social and climate protection: Without Manchin there would be no majority in the Senate.
The White House is mighty angry at the rebellious Democrats. Manchin apparently gave the president only a 30-minute “lead” before igniting the surprise. And that, of all things, on Fox News. Before that he didn’t answer the phone.
Manchin justified his decision with the financial feasibility. He had already pushed Biden’s 10-year prestige project from the original US $ 3.5 trillion to US $ 1.75 trillion in weeks of negotiations.
Some people earn from fossil fuels
With “Build Back Better”, the Democrats want to bring a whole series of election promises through the congress at once: such as tax breaks for families, paid parental leave, expansion of health insurance and the promotion of sustainable energies.
Manchin had resisted the latter in particular. His state of West Virginia is the second most important coal location in the country, and he is big in business himself. According to American media, he has between $ 1 million and $ 5 million in company shares and makes nearly half a million dollars a year from his stake.
Joe Biden’s first year in office is bumpy
Biden’s press spokeswoman Jen Psaki (43) said that Manchin’s announcement contradicts both his own previous statements and the status of discussions with the president. And he breaks agreements that have already been made.
Manchin hardly has to fear political consequences. He will not have to face his re-election until 2025.
For Biden, on the other hand, it’s about practically everything. Because in almost all other areas, too, things are not going well for the US President and his administration.
Climate protection
Manchin’s decision endangers the government’s climate goals. Although the Senator had already pushed the package, the “Build Back Better Act” still provided more than $ 300 billion in tax incentives for electric vehicles, sustainable energy and other measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Biden now has two options: Either he tries smaller legislative packages – or he takes regulatory measures for which he does not need a congressional majority.
inflation
Groceries, gifts, gasoline: everything is more expensive. The high rate of inflation brings worrying Christmas to many Americans.
In November, the year-on-year inflation rate was 6.8 percent – the highest level in almost four decades. And this despite the fact that the economy is booming and the labor market has also recovered from the corona slump.
The rise in prices is a consequence of economic distortions as a result of the Corona crisis and problems in global supply chains. However, critics also blame the Biden government’s extensive economic and investment packages.
corona
The Biden government rolled out the vaccination campaign at record speed. Everyone was able to get vaccinated as early as April, and the booster officially started in September.
In every CVS you can get the spades quickly and easily. Nevertheless, even after the devastating delta wave, only 61 percent of the population are fully vaccinated and 18.1 percent are boosted.
And now Omikron threatens. Biden wants to present his plans on Tuesday. But his room for maneuver is limited: He can hardly give more than urgent warnings.
immigration
As soon as he was in office, Biden had to deal with the ongoing topic of borders. Reports of drowned minors and photos of overcrowded shelters on the border with Mexico dominated the headlines.
Biden entrusted his vice-president Kamala Harris (57) with the Sisyphus task. Little has happened since then – most recently a Texas federal judge even forced the Biden administration to reinstate Trump’s controversial “Remain in Mexico” program, with which refugees are transported to Mexican cities near the border until their asylum applications have been processed.
popularity
Both the approval ratings of the President and that of his Vice President Kamala Harris have known only one direction for months: downwards. After a year in office, only Donald Trump was less popular than his predecessors.
Biden already received his first receipt at the beginning of November: The Republicans won the gubernatorial election in what is actually blue Virginia. The approval ratings are especially important with a view to midterms 2022, when the thin democratic majority in Congress is on the brink.