After yesterday thinking Manchin would come around with a compromise number, Manchin may have blown the whole thing up. Or maybe he's simply staking out a new position? Or maybe he's venting?
There is zero reason why Manchinema can't come to some sort of number. Again, I can't see what Sinema thinks her plan is. Manchin's motivations make at least a little sense - though I think he misreads the state of the country.
The fact that they won't get together and come up with a number is incredibly frustrating. It certainly makes them look like people more interested in the attention than in solving the impasse, but Sinema doesn't seem to even want the spotlight. She has shied away from press appearances.
In the end, passing both bills makes too much sense for all parties. I think Progressives could swallow a $2.5T bill, providing there are certain things in there like Child Tax Credits, raising taxes on the rich and negotiating drug prices. I think they'd be willing to swallow some means testing and reductions in other areas if it meant getting their top line items.
Who really knows what Manchinema's topline items are?
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