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| It is not clear why Joe Manchin changed his mind. That earlier plan, which for months has floundered in the Senate with an uncertain future, is now "dead", Mr Manchin said on Wednesday. (File photo by= Reuters) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] A US Democratic senator who has proved a political thorn in the White House's side has stunned Washington by announcing sudden support for President Joe Biden's top agenda item. Joe Manchin says he now backs a bill to raise corporate taxes, fight climate change, and lower medical costs.
The West Virginians previously objected to the proposal, citing fears more spending could worsen inflation. Passage of the bill would be a major legislative victory for Mr. Biden. Salvaging a key plank of his domestic agenda could also grant a much-needed electoral boost for his fellow Democrats, who are battling to retain control of Congress as midterm elections loom in November. It's not clear what prompted the senator's dramatic reversal to support the new bill. He is something of a political anomaly, representing a conservative state that voted overwhelmingly for former President Donald Trump.
Mr. Manchin and Mr. Schumer also maintained the measure would pay for itself by raising $739bn (£608bn) over the decade through hiking the corporate minimum tax on big companies to 15%, beefing up Internal Revenue Service tax enforcement, and allowing the government to negotiate prescription drug prices. Mr Schumer said the Senate would take the bill up next week. Meanwhile, Republicans, who have previously tried to woo Mr. Manchin to join their party, slammed him.
