Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, the political world was rocked by the release of a document, signed by both Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Joe Manchin in late July, outlining provisions of a reconciliation bill that Manchin would support and providing a topline number of $1.5 trillion.
Schumer’s potential 2022 primary opponent, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has called the current $3.5 trillion (really $5.5 trillion) reckless tax-and-spend bill a “progressive victory” but it’s clear that she would like to spend much more than that. Her House ally, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) has called the $3.5 trillion topline number “the floor” in negotiations.
The rift in the Democrat Party has grown wider in recent weeks as radicals hold the $1 trillion infrastructure bill hostage. Now, the release of this letter, which puts Schumer on the side of a far smaller bill than previously discussed, will surely add fuel to the fire of AOC and her Squad’s resistance.
As Manchin said yesterday: “I’ve never been a liberal in any way, shape or form. I’m willing to come from zero to 1.5 (trillion).” Woah!
In the balance is President Joe Biden’s agenda and the Democrat majorities in both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. But, more pressing for Schumer is his future as senior Senator from New York should AOC mount a primary challenge. Will this be the last straw for AOC? Only time will tell…
Statement from Spokesman T.W. Arrighi: “Joe Manchin may not only scuttle Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders’ liberal tax and spending spree, he may also jeopardize Chuck Schumer’s reign in the Senate by infuriating AOC. The socialist icon is no doubt livid over the deal struck by Manchin and Schumer this summer, and it may cost Democrats their majorities and their Majority Leader his seat. Governing is never easy, but the growing rift between AOC and Schumer is redefining dysfunction in the age of socialist Democrats.”
###