Announcement represents stunning blow for Democrats’ hopes to pass meaningful legislation before November elections
Joe Manchin, the Democratic senator who has repeatedly thwarted his own party’s legislation, refuses to support more funding for climate action and will also block tax raises for wealthy Americans, dealing a further stunning blow to Joe Biden’s agenda when the US president is struggling to notch up successes.
Manchin told Chuck Schumer, the Senate majority leader, late on Thursday that he will oppose an economic measure he has been negotiating with Democratic leaders if it includes climate or green energy provisions, or higher taxes on the rich and corporations, a Democrat briefed on the conversations said.